^  OF   THE  M        y; 

1  p  University  of  California 


t:t^        I  GIFT  OF 

^     ^         GEORGE  MOREY  RICHARDSON 

^(      I  Received,  August,  1898.     ^ "    '  ,         ^    '^' 

^^'     ^^  Accession  No,  J _^^,^ J „,        Class  No. j^ 

baSiSEiS 


S^ 


>^f^ 


V'^ 


K>-.i 


THE  TINTED  VENUS. 


A  FARCICAL  ROMANCE. 


BY    F.    ANSTEY 


NEW  YORK: 

GEORGE  MUNRO,    PUBLISHER, 

17  TO  27  Vandbwater  Street. 


p.  ANSTEY^S  WORKS 

CONTAINED  IN  THE  SEASIDE  LIBRARY  (POCKET  EDITION)! 


VO. 


PRICE. 


69  Vice  Vei-sfi 20 

225  The  Giant's  Robe 20 

503  The  Tinted  Venua     A  Farcical  Romance         .       .  10 

819  A  Fallen  Idol  20 


^IL^ 


THE  TINTED  VENUS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  PURSUIT  OF  PLEASURE. 

Ther  hopped  Hawkyn, 
Ther  daunsed  Dawkyn, 
Ther  trumped  Tomkyn    .    .    . 

The  Tournament  of  Tottenham. 

In  Southampton  Row,  Bloomsbuiy,  there  is  a  small  alley  or  pas- 
sage leading  into  Queen  Square,  and  rendered  inaccessible  to  all 
but  foot  passengers  by  some  iron  posts.  The  shops  in  this  passage 
are  of  a  subdued  exterior,  and  are  overshadowed  by  a  dingy  old 
edifice  dedicated  to  St.  George  the  Martyr,  which  seems  to  have 
begun  its  existence  as  a  rather  liandsome  chapel,  and  to  have  im- 
proved itself,  by  a  sort  of  natural  selection,  into  a  singularly  ugly 
church. 

Into  this  alley,  one  Saturday  afternoon  late  in  October,  came  a 
short  stout  young  man,  with  sandy  hair  and  a  perpetual  grin  de- 
noting anticipation  rather  than  enjoyment.  Opposite  the  churcli  he 
stopped  at  a  hair-dresser's  shop,  wiiich  bore  the  name  of  Tweddle. 
The  display  in  the  window  was  chastely  severe;  the  conventional 
lialf-lady  revolving  slowly  in  fatuous  self-satisfaction,  and  the  gen- 
tleman bearing  a  piebald  beard  with  waxen  resignation,  were  not  to 
be  found  in  this  shop-front,  wiiich  exhibited  nothing  but  a  small 
pile  of  toilet  remedies  and  a  few  lengths  of  hair  of  graduated  tints. 
It  was  doubtful,  perhaps,  whether  such  self-restraint  on  the  part  of 
its  proprietor  was  the  result  of  a  distaste  for  empty  show,  or  a  con- 
viction that  the  neighborhood  did  not  expect  it. 

Inside  the  shop  there  was  nobody  but  a  small  boy,  corking  and 
labeling  bottles;  but  before  he  could  answer  any  question  as  to  the 
whereabouts  of  his  emploj'er,  that  artist  made  his  appearance. 
Leander  Tweddle  was  about  thirt5^  of  middle  height,  with  a  luxuri- 
ant head  of  brown  hair,  and  carefully  trimmed  whiskers  that  curled 
round  toward  his  upper  lip,  where  they  spent  themselves  in  a  faint 
mustache.  His  eyes  were  rather  small,  and  his  nose  had  a  deciiled 
upward  tendency;  but  with  his  pink  and  white  complexion  and 
compact  well-made  figure  he  was  far  from  ill-looking,  though  he 
thought  himself  even  further. 

"Well,  Jauncy,"  he  said,  after  the  first  greetings,  "so  you 
haven't  forgot  our  appointment?" 

"  Wliy,  no,"  explained  his  friend;  "but  I  never  thought  I  should 
get  away  in  time  to  keep  it.  AVe'vc  been  in  C(>urt  all  the  morning 
with  motions  and  short  causes,  and  the  old  Vice  sat  on  till  past 


4  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

three;  and  when  we  did  get  back  to  chambers  Splitter  kept  me  there 
discussing  an  opinion  of  "his  1  couldn't  quite  agree  with,  and  I  was 
ever  so  long  before  I  got  him  to  alter  it  my  way," 

For  he  was  clerk  to  a  barrister  in  good  practice,  and  it  was 
Jauncy's  pride  to  discover  an  occasional  verbal  slip  in  some  of  his 
employer's  more  hastily  written  opinions  on  cases,  and  suggest  im- 
provements. 

"  Well,  James,"  said  the  hair-dresser,  "  I  don't  know  that  I  could 
have  got  away  myself  any  earlier.  I've  been  so  absorbed  in  the 
laborrit'ry,  what  with  three  rejuvenators  and  an  elixir  all  on  the 
simmer  together,  I  almost  gave  way  under  the  strain  of  it;  but 
they're  set  to  cool  now,  and  I'm  ready  to  go  as  soon  as  you  please." 

"  Now,"  said  Jauncy,  briskly,  as  they  left  the  shop  together,  "if 
we're  to  get  up  to  Rosherwich  Gardens  to-night,  we  musn't  dawdle." 

"  I  just  want  to  look  in  here  a  minute,"  said  Tweddle,  stopping 
before  the  window  of  a  working  jeweler,  who  sat  there  in  a  narrow 
partition  facing  the  light,  with  a  great  horn  lens  protruding  from 
one  of  his  eyes  like  a  monstrous  growth.  "  I  left  something  there 
to  be  altered,  and  I  may  as  well  see  if  it's  done." 

Apparently  it  was  done,  for  he  came  out  almost  immediately, 
thrusting  a  small  cardboard  box  into  his  pocket,  as  he  rejoined  his 
friend.  "Now  we'd  better  take  a  cab  up  to  Fenchurch  Street," 
said  Jauncy.  "Can't  keep  those  girls  standing  about  on  the  plat- 
form." 

As  they  drove  along,  Tweddle  observed,  "  I  didn't  understand 
that  our  party  was  to  include  the  fair  sect,  James?" 

"  Didn't  you  ?  I  thought  my  letter  said  so  plain  enough.  I'm 
an  engaged  man  now,  you  know,  Tweddle.  It  wouldn't  do  if  I 
went  out  to  enjoy  myself  and  left  my  young  lady  at  home!" 

"  No,"  agreed  Leander  Tweddle  with  a  moral  twinge,  "  no, 
James.  I'd  forgot  you  were  engaged.  What's  the  lady's  name  by 
the  bye?" 

"  Parkinson;  Bella  Parkinson,"  was  the  answer. 

Leander  had  turned  a  deeper  color.  "Did  you  say,"  he  asked, 
looking  out  of  the  window  on  his  side  of  the  hansom,  "  that  there 
was  another  lady  going  down?" 

"Only  Bella's  sister,  Ada.  She's  a  regular  jolly  girl,  Ada  is, 
you'll— hullo!" 

For  Tweddle  had  suddenly  thrust  his  stick  up  the  trap  and 
stopped  the  cab.  "I'm  very  sorry,  James,"  he  said,  preparing  to 
get  out,  "  but— but  you'll  have  to  excuse  me  being  of  your  com- 
pany." 

"  Do  you  mean  that  my  Bella  and  her  sister  are  not  good  enough 
company  for  you?"  demanded  Jauncy.  "  You  were  a  shop  assist- 
ant yourself,  Tweddle,  only  a  short  while  ago!" 

"  I  know  that,  James,  I  know;  and  it  isn't  that — far  from  it.  I'm 
sure  they  are  two  as  respectable  girls,  and  quite  the  ladies  in  every 
respect,  as  I'd  wish  to  meet.     Only  the  fact  is — " 

The  driver  was  listening  through  the  trap,  and  before  Leander 
would  say  more  he  told  him  to  drive  on  till  further  orders,  after 
whicli  he  continued : 

"  The  fact  is— we  haven't  met  for  so  long  that  I  dare  say  you're 
unaware  of  it — but  I'm  engaged,  James,  tool" 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  6 

"  Wish  you  joy  with  all  my  heart,  Tweddle;  but  what  then?" 

"Why,"  exclaimed  Leander,  "my  Matilda  (that's  her  name)  is 
the  dearest  girl,  James;  but  she's  most  uncommon  parlickler,  and  I 
don't  think  she'd  like  my  going  to  a  place  of  open-air  entertainment 
where  there's  dancing — and  I'll  get  out  here,  please!" 

"Gammon!"  said  Jauncy,  "  that  isn't  it,  Tweddle;  don't  try  and 
humbug  me.  You  were  ready  enough  to  go  just  now.  You've  a 
better  reason  than  that!" 

"  James,  I'll  tell  you  the  truth,  I  have.  In  earlier  days,  James,  I 
used  constantly  to  be  meeting  this  Miss  Parkinson  and  her  sister  in 
serciety,  and  I  dare  say  I  made  myself  so  pleasant  and  agreeable 
(you  know  what  a  way  that  is  of  mine)  that  JMiss  Ada  (not  your 
lady,  of  course)  may  have  thought  I  meant  something  special  by  it, 
and  there's  no  saying  but  what  it  might  have  come  in  time  to  our 
keeping  company,  ©nly  I  happened  ]ust  then  to  see  Matilda,  and— 
and  1  haven't  been  near  the  Parkinsons  ever  since.  So  you  can  see 
for  yourself  that  a  meeting  might  be  awkward  for  all  parties  con- 
cerned, and  I  really  must  get  out,  Jamrs!" 

Jauncy  forced  him  back.  "  It's  all  nonsense,  Tweddle,"  he  said, 
"you  can't  back  out  of  it  now.  Don't  make  a  fuss  about  nothing. 
Ada  don't  look  as  if  she'd  been  breaking  her  heart  for  you!" 

"  You  never  can  tell  with  women,"  said  the  hair- dresser,  senten- 
tiously ;  "  and  meeting  me  sudden,  and  learning  it  could  never  be — 
no  one  can  say  how  she  mightn't  take  ii!" 

"I  call  it 'too  bad,"  exclaimed  Jauncy.  "Here  have  I  been 
counting  on  you  to  make  the  ladies  enjoy  themselves — for  I  haven't 
your  gift  of  entertaining  conversation,  and  don't  pretend  to  it— and 
you  go  and  leave  me  in  the  lurch,  and  spoil  their  evening  for  them!" 

"  if  I  thought  I  was  doing  that — "  said  Leander,  hesitating. 

"  Y^ou  are,  you  know  you  are!"  persisted  Jauncy,  who  was  anx- 
ious to  avoid  the  reduction  of  his  party  to  so  inconvenient  a  num- 
ber as  three. 

"And  see  here,  Tweddle,  you  needn't  say  anything  of  your  en- 
gagement unless  you  like.  I  give  you  my  word  I  won't,  not  even 
to  Bella,  if  you'll  only  come!  As  to  Ada,  she  can  take  care  of  her- 
self unless  Pm  very  much  mistaken  in  her.  So  come  along,  like  a 
good  chap!" 

"  1  give  in,  James;  I  give  in,"  said  Leander.  "A  promise  is  a 
promise,  and  yet  I  feel  somehow  I  am  doing  wrong  to  go,  and  as  if 
no  good  would  come  of  it,  I  do,  indeed!" 

And  so  he  did  not  stop  the  cab  a  second  time,  and  allowed  him- 
self to  be  taken  without  further  protest  to  Fenchurch  Street  Station, 
on  the  platform  of  which  they  found  the  Misses  Parkinson  waiting 
for  them. 

Miss  Bella  Parkinson,  the  elder  of  the  two,  who  was  employed  in 
a  large  toy  and  fancy  goods  establishment  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Westbourne  Grove,  was  tall  and  slim,  with  pale  eyes  and  auburn 
hair.  She  had  some  claims  to  good  looks,  in  spite  of  a  slightly 
pasty  complexion,  and  a  large  and  decidedly  unamiable  mouth. 

Her  sister  Ada  was  the  more  pleasing  in  appearance  and  manner, 
a  brunette  with  large  brown  eyes,  an  impertinent  little  nose,  and  a 
brilliant  healthy  cofor.  She  was  an  assistant  to  a  milliner  and  bon- 
oet-maker  in  the  Edgeware  Koad, 


6  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

Both  these  young  ladies,  when  in  the  fulfillment  of  their  daily 
duties,  were  models  of  deportment;  in  their  hours  of  ease,  the 
elder's  cold  dignity  was  rather  apt  to  turn  to  peevishness,  while  the 
younger  sister,  relieved  from  the  restraints  of  the  show-room,  be- 
trayed a  lively  and  even  frivolous  disposition. 

It  was  this  liveliness  and  frivolity  that  had  fascinated  the  hair- 
dresser in  days  that  had  gone  by,  but  if  he  had  felt  any  self-distrust 
now  in  venturing  within  their  influence,  such  apprehensions  vanished 
with  the  first  sight  of  the  charms  which  had  been  counteracted  be- 
fore they  had  time  to  prevail. 

She  was  well  enough,  this  Miss  Ada  Parkinson,  he  thought  now; 
a  nice-looking  girl  in  her  way,  and  stylishly  dressed.  But  his  Ma- 
tilda looked  twice  the  lady  she  ever  could,  and  a  vision  of  his  be- 
trothed (at  that  time  taking  a  week's  rest  in  the  country)  rose  before 
him,  as  if  to  justify  and  confirm  his  preference. 

The  luckless  James  had  to  undergo  some  amount  of  scolding 
from  Miss  Bella  for  his  want  of  punctuality,  a  scolding  which  merely 
supplied  an  object  to  his  grin;  and  during  her  remarks  Ada  had 
ample  time  to  rally  Leander^Tweddle  upon  his  long  neglect,  and  used 
it  to  the  best  advantage. 

Perhaps  he  would  have  been  better  pleased  by  a  little  less  in- 
sensibility, a  touch  of  surprise  and  pleasure  on  her  part  at  meeting 
him  again,  as  he  allowed  himself  to  show  in  a  remark  that  his  ab- 
sence did  not  seem  to  have  affected  her  to  any  great  extent. 

"  I  don't  know  what  you  expected,  Mr.  Tweddle,"  she  replied. 
"  Ought  I  to  have  cried  both  my  eyes  out?  You  haven't  cried  out 
either  of  yours,  you  know!" 

"'Men  must  work,  and  women  must  weep,'  as  Shakespeare 
says,"  he  observed,  with  a  vague  idea  that  he  was  making  rather  an 
apt  quotation.  But  his  companion  pointed  out  that  this  only  ap- 
plied to  cases  where  the  women  had  something  to  v.-eep  about. 

The  party  had  a  compartment  to  themselves,  and  Leander,  who 
sat  at  one  end  opposite  to  Ada,  found  his  spirits  rising  under  the 
influence  of  her  lively  sallies. 

"That's  the  only  thing  Matilda  wants,"  he  thought,  "  a  little 
more  liveliness  and  go  about  her.  I  like  a  little  chaff  myself,  now 
and  then,  I  must  say." 

At  the  other  end  of  the  carriage,  Bella  had  been  suggesting  that 
the  Gardens  might  be  closed  so  late  in  the  year,  and  regretting  that 
they  had  not  chosen  the  new  melodrama  at  the  Adelphi  instead; 
which  caused  Jauncy  to  draw  glowing  pictures  of  the  attractions  of 
Rosherwich  Gardens. 

"I  was  there  a  year  ago  last  summer,"  he  said,  "and  it  was 
first-rate:  open-air  dancing,  summer  theater,  rope-walking,  fire- 
works, and  supper  out  under  the  trees.  You'll  enjoy  yourself, 
Bella,  right  enough  when  you  get  there ! " 

"  If  that  isn't  enough  for  you,  Bella,"  cried  her  sister,  "you 
must  be  diflicult  to  please !  I'm  sure  I'm  quite  looking  forward  to 
it,  aren't  you  Mr.  Tweddle?" 

The  poor  man  was  cursed  by  the  fatal  desire  of  pleasing,  and 
unconsciously  threw  an  altogether  unnecessary  degree  of  empresse- 
ment  into  his  voice  as  he  replied,  "  In  the  company'l  am  at  present, 


1?HE    TINTED    TEKUS.  7 

I  should  look  forward  to  it,  if  it  was  a  wilderness  with  a  funeral 
in  it," 

"Oh,  dear  me,  Mr.  Tweddle,  that  is  a  pretty  speech!"  said 
Ada,  and  she  blushed  in  a  manner  which  appalled  the  concience- 
stricken  hair-dresser.  "  There  I  go  again,"  he  thought  remorsefully, 
"  putting  things  in  the  poor  girl's  head — it  ain't  right.  I'm  making 
myself  too  pleasant!" 

And  then  it  struck  him  that  it  would  be  only  prudent  to  make 
his  position  clearly  understood,  and,  carefully  lowering  his  voice, 
he  began  a  speech  with  that  excellent  intention:  "  Miss  Parkinson," 
he  said  huskih^  "there's  something  I  have  to  tell  you  about  myself, 
very  particular.  Since  I  last  enjoyed  the  pleasure  of  meeting  with 
you  my  prospects  have  greatly  altered,  I  am  no  longer — " 

But  she  cut  him  short  with  a  little  gesture  of  entreaty:  "  Oh, 
not  here,  please,  Mr.  Tweddle,"  she  said;  "  tell  me  about  it  in  the 
gardens  1" 

''  Very  well,"  he  said,  relieved;  "  remind  me  when  we  get  there 
— in  case  I  forget,  you  know." 

"Remind  you!"  cried  Ada;  "the  idea,'hlv.  Tweddle!  I  cer- 
tainly sha'n't  do  any  such  thing." 

"  She  thinks  1  am  going  to  propose  to  her."  he  thought,  rue- 
fully; "  it  will  be  a  delicate  business  undeceiving  her.  I  wish  it 
was  over  aud  done  with!" 

It  was  quite  dark  by  the  time  they  had  crossed  the  river  by  the 
ferry,  aud  made  their  way  up  to  the  entrance  to  the  pleasure  gar- 
dens, imposing  enough,  with  its  white  colonnade,  its  sphinxes,  and 
lines  of  colored  lamps. 

But  no  one  else  had  crossed  with  them;  and,  as  they  stood  at 
the  turnstiles,  all  they  could  see  of  the  grounds  beyond  seemed  so 
dark  and  silent  that  they  began  to  have  involuntary  misgivings.  "I 
suppose,"  said  Jauncy  to  the  man  at  the  ticket-hole,  "  the  gardens 
are  open,  eh?" 

"  Oh,  yes,"  he  said  gruflSy,  "  they're  open — they're  open;  though 
there  ain't  much  going  on  out  of  doors,  being  the  last  night  of  the 
season."  Bella  again  wished  that  they  had  selected  the  Adelphi 
for  their  evening's  pleasure,  and  remarked  that  Jauncy  "  might 
have  known." 

"  Well,"  said  the  latter  to  the  party  generally,  "  what  do  you  say 
— shall  we  go  in,  or  get  back  by  the  first  train  home?" 

"  Don't  be  so  ridiculous,  James,"  said  Bella,  peevishly  ;  "  what's 
the  good  of  going  back,  to  be  too  late  for  everything?  The  mis- 
chief's done  now." 

"Oh,  let's  go  in!"  advised  Ada,  "the  amusements  and  things 
will  be  just  as  nice  in-doors — nicer  on  a  chilly  evening  like  this;" 
and  Leander  seconded  her  heartily. 

So  they  went  in ;  Jauncy  leading  the  way  with  the  still  complain- 
ing Bella,  and  Leander  Tweddle  bringing  up  the  rear  with  Ada. 
They  picked  their  way  as  well  as  they  could  in  the  darkness 
caused  by  the  closely  planted  trees  and  shrubs,  down  a  winding 
path,  where  the  sopped  leaves  gave  a  slippery  foothold  and  the 
branches  flicked  moisture  insultingly  in  their  faces  as  they  pushed 
them  aside. 

A  dead  silence  reigned  everywhere,  broken  only  by  the  wind  as 


8  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

it  rustled  amongst  the  bare  twigs,  or  the  whistling  of  a  flaring  gas- 
torch  protruding  from  some  convenient  tree. 

Jauncy  occasionally  shouted  back  some  desperate  essay  at  jocular- 
ity, at  which  Ada  laughed  with  some  perseverance,  until  even  she 
could  no  longer  resist  the  influence  of  the  surroundings. 

On  a  hot  summer's  evening  those  grounds,  brilliantly  illuminated 
and  crowded  by  holiday-makers,  have  been  the  delight  of  thousands 
of  honest  Londoners,  and  will  be  so  again ;  but  it  was  undeniable 
that  on  this  particular  occasion  they  were  pervaded  by  a  decent 
melancholy. 

Ada  had  slipped  a  hand,  clad  in  crimson  silk,  through  Leander's 
arm,  as  they  groped  through  the  gloom  together,  and  shrunk  to  his 
side  now  and  then  in  an  alarm  which  was  only  half  pretended.  But 
if  her  light  pressure  upon  his  arm  made  his  heart  beat  at  all  faster, 
it  was  only  at  the  fancy  that  the  thrusting  hand  was  ids  Matilda's, 
or  so  at  least  did  he  account  for  it  to  himself  afterward. 

They  followed  on,  down  a  broad  promenade,  where  the  ground 
glistened  with  autumn  damps,  and  the  unlighted  lamps  looked  wan 
and  spectral.  There  was  a  bear-pit  hard  by,  over  the  railings  of 
which  Ada  leaned  and  shouted  a  defiant  "Boo!"  but  the  bears  had 
turned  in  for  the  night,  and  the  stone  re-echoed  her  voice  with  a 
hollow  ring.  Indistinct  bird  forms  were  roosting  in  cages;  but  her 
umbrella  had  no  effect  upon  them. 

Jauncy  was  waiting  for  them  to  come  up,  perhaps  as  a  protection 
against  his  fiancee's  reproaches.  "  In  another  hour,"  he  said,  with 
an  implied  apology,  "you'll  see  how  different  this  place  looks;  we 
— we've  come  a  little  too  early.  Suppose  we  fill  up  the  time  by  a 
nice  little  dinner  at  the  Restorong;  eh,  Ada?  What  do  you  think, 
Tweddle?" 

The  suggestion  was  received  favorably,  and  Jauncy,  thankful  to 
retrieve  his  reputation  as  leader,  took  them  toward  the  spot  where 
food  was  to  be  had. 

Presently  they  saw  lights  twinkling  through  the  trees,  and  came 
to  a  place  which  Avas  clearly  the  focus  of  festivity;  there  was  the 
open-air  theater,  its  drop-scene  lowered,  its  proscenium  lost  in  the 
gloom;  thei-e  was  the  circle  for  al- fresco  dancing,  but  it  was  bare, 
and  the  clustered  lights  were  dead ,  there  was  the  restaurant,  dark 
and  silent  like  all  else. 

Jauncy  stood  there  and  rubbed  his  chin:  "  This  is  where  1  dined 
when  we  were  here  last,"  he  said,  at  length;  "  and  a  capital  little 
dinner  they  gave  us  too!" 

"What  1  should  like  to  know,"  said  the  elder  Miss  Parkinson, 
"  is,  where  we  are  to  dine  to  night." 

**  Yes,"  said  Jauncy  encouragingly,  "  don't  you  fret  yourself, 
Bella,  Here's  an  old  party  sweeping  up  leaves,  we'll  ask  him." 
They  did  so,  and  were  referred  to  a'large  building,  in  the  Gothic 
style,  with  a  Tudor  doorway,  known  as  the  *'  Baronial  All,"  where 
lights  shone  behind  the  painted  windows. 

Inside,  a  few  of  the  lamps  around  the  pillars  were  lighted,  and 
the  body  of  the  floor  was  roped  in  as  if  for  dancing;  but  the  hall 
was  empty,  save  for  a  bar-maid,  assisted  by  a  sharp  little  girl,  be- 
hind the  long  bar  on  one  of  its  sides. 
Jauncv  led  his  delected  little  nartv  ud  to  this,  and  affain  put  his 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  9 

inquirj'  with  less  hopefulness.  When  he  found  that  the  only  avail- 
able form  of  refreshment  that  evening  was  bitter  ale  and  captain's 
biscuits,  mitigated  by  occasional  caraway  seeds,  he  became  a  truly 
pitiable  object. 

"  They — the}^  don't  keep  this  place  up  on  the  same  scale  in  the 
autumn,  you  see,"  he  explained  weakly;  "it's  very  different  in  sum- 
mer, what  they  call  '  an  endless  round  of  amusements.'  " 

"  There's  an  endless  round  of  amusement  now,"  observed  Ada-, 
"  but  it's  a  naught!" 

"  Oh,  there'll  be  something  going  on  by  and  by,  never  fear,"  said 
Jauncy,  determined  to  be  sanguine;  "or  else  they  wouldn't  be 
open." 

"  There'll  be  dancing  here  this  evening,"  the  bar-maid  informed 
him;  "  that  is  all  we  open  for  at  this  time  of  year,  and  this  is  the 
last  night  of  the  season." 

"  oil!"  said  Jauncy,  cheerfully,  "  you  see  we  only  came  just  in 
time,  Bella:  and  I  suppose  you'll  have  a  good  many  down  here  to- 
night, eh,  miss?" 

"  How  much  did  we  take  last  Saturday,  Jenny?"  said  the  bar- 
maid to  the  sharp  little  girl. 

"  Seven  and  fourpence  'ap'ny — most  of  it  beer,"  said  the  child. 
"Margaret,  I  may  count  the  money  again  to-night,  mayn't  I?" 

The  bar-maid  made  some  mentalcalculation,  after  which  she 
replied  to  Jauncy'g  question:  "  We  may  have  some  fifteen  couples 
or  so  down  to-night,"  she  said;  "but  that  won't  be  for  half  an 
hour  yet." 

"  The  question  is,"  said  Jauncy,  trying  to  bear  up  under  this  last 
blow;  "the  question  is,  how  are  we  to  amuse  ourselves  till  the 
dancing  begins?" 

"  I  don'tknow  what  others  are  going  to  do,"  Bella  announced; 
"but  I  shall  stay  here,  James,  and  keep  warm — if  lean!"  and  once 
more  she  uttered  her  regret  that  they  had  not  gone  to  the  Adelphi. 

Her  sister  declined  to  follow  her  example:  "I  mean  to  see  all 
there  is  to  be  seen,"  she  declared,  "since  we  are  here;  and  per- 
haps Mr.  Tweedle  will  come  and  take  care  of  me— will  you,  iVIr. 
Tweedle?" 

He  was  not  sorry  to  comply,  and  they  wandered  out  together 
through  the  grounds,  which  offered  considerable  variety.  There 
were  alleys  hned  with  pale  plaster  statues,  and  a  grove  dedicated  to 
the  master  minds  of  the  world,  represented  by  huge  busts,  with 
more  or  less  appropriate  quotations.  There  were  alcoves,  too,  and 
neatly  ruined  castles. 

Ada  talked  almost  the  whole  time  in  a  sprightly  manner,  which 
gave  Leander  no  opportunity  of  introducing  the  subject  of  his  en- 
gagement, and  this  continued  until  they  had  reached  a  small  battle- 
mented  platform  on  some  rising  ground.  Below  were  the  black 
masses  of  trees,  with  a  faint  fringe  of  light  here  and  there;  beyond 
lay  the  Thames,  in  which  red  and  white  reflections  quivered,  and 
from  whose  distant  bends  and  reaches  came  the  dull  roar  of  fog- 
horns and  the  pantings  of  tugs. 

Ada  stood  here  in  silence  for  some  time;  at  last  she  said,  "After 
all,  I'm  not  sorry  we  came — are  you  ?  " 

"If  I  don't  take  care  what  I  say,  I  may  be!"  he  thought,  v.xW, 


10  THE    TINTED    VEi^^US. 

answered  guardedly,  "  On  the  contrary,  I'm  glad,  for  it  gives  me 
the  opportunity  of  telling  you  something  I— I  think  you  ought  to 
know." 

"  What  was  he  going  to  say  next?"  she  thought.  Was  a  decla- 
ration coming,  and,  if  so,  should  she  accept  him?  She  was  not 
sure;  he  had  behaved  very  badly  in  keeping  so  long  away  from  her, 
and  a  proposal  would  be  a  very  suitable  form  of  apology;  but  there 
was  the  gentleman  who  traveled  for  a  certain  firm  in  the  Edgeware 
Road,  he  had  been  very  "particular"  in  his  attentions  of  late. 
Well,  she  would  see  how  siie  felt  when  Leander  had  spoken;  he 
was  beginning  to  speak  now. 

"I  don't  want  to  put  it  too  abrupt,"  he  said ;  " I'll  come  to  it 
gradually.  There's  a  young  lady  that  I'm  now  looking  forward  to 
spending  the  whole  of  my  future  life  with." 

"And  what  is  she  called?"  asked  Ada.  ("  He's  rather  a  nice  little 
man,  after  all!"  she  was  thinking.) 

"  Matilda,"  he  said;  and  the  answer  came  like  a  blow  in  the  face. 
For  the  moment  she  hated  him  as  bitterly  as  if  he  had  been  all  the 
world  to  her;  but  she  carried  off  her  mortification  by  a  rather  hys- 
terical laugh. 

"  Fancy  you  being  engaged!"  she  said,  by  way  of  explanation  of 
her  merriment;  "  and  to  any  one  with  the  name  of  Matilda^t's  such 
a  stupid-sounding  sort  of  name!" 

" It  ain't  at  all;  it  all  depends  how  you  say  it:  if  you  pronounce 
it  like  I  do,  Matilda,  it  has  rather  a  pretty  sound.     You  try,  now." 

"  Well,  we  won't  quarrel  about  it,  Mr.  Twcddle;  I'm  glad  it  isn't 
my  name,  that's  all.  And  now  tell  me  all  about  your  young  lady: 
what's  her  other  name,  and  is  she  very  good-looking?" 

"  She's  a  Miss  Matilda  Collum,"  said  lie;  "she  is  considered 
handsome  by  competent  judges,  and  she  keeps  the  books  at  a  flor- 
ist's in  the  vicinity  of  Bayswater." 

"  And,  if  it  isn't  a  rude  question,  why  didn't  you  bring  her  with 
you  this  evening?" 

"  Because  she's  away  for  a  short  holiday,  and  isn't  coming  back 
till  the  last  thing  to-morrow  night." 

"  And  I  suppose  you've  been  wishing  I  was  Matilda  all  tiie  time?" 
she  said  audaciously;  for  Miss  Ada  Parkinson  Avas  not  an  over- 
scrupulous young  person  and  did  not  recognize  in  the  fact  of  her 
friend's  engagement  any  reason  why  she  should  not  attempt  to  re- 
claim his  vagrant  admiration. 

Leander  7ia(^  been  guilty  of  this  wish  once  or  twice;  but  though 
he  was  not  absolutely  filled  with  tact,  he  did  refrain  from  admitting 
the  impeachment. 

"Well,  you  see,"  he  said,  in  not  very  happy  evasion,  "Matilda 
doesn't  care  about  this  kind  of  thing;  she's  rather  particular,  Ma- 
tilda is." 

"  And  I'm  not!"  said  Ada.     "  I  see;  thank  you,  Mr.  Tweddle!" 

"You  do  take  one  up  so!"  he  complained.  "  I  never  intended 
nothing  of  the  sort — far  from  it." 

"Well,  then,  I  forgive  you;  we  can't  all  be  Matildas,  I  suppose. 
.A.nd  now  suppose  we  go  back;  they  will  be  beginning  to  dance  by 
:iow!" 

"  With  pleasure,"  he  said;   "  only  you  must  excuse  me  dancing, 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  11 

because,  as  an  enijaged  man,  I  have  had  to  renounce  (except  with 
one  person)  tlie  cha^'ms  of  Terpsy-chore.  I  mean,"  he  explained 
condescendingly,  "that  I  can't  dance  in  public  save  with  my  in- 
tended." 

"Ah,  well,"  said  Ada,  "perhaps  Terpsy-chore  will  get  over  it; 
still,  1  should  like  to  see  the  Terpsy-choring,  if  you  have  no  objec- 
tion." 

And  they  returned  to  the  Baronial  Hall,  which  by  this  time  pre- 
sented a  more  cheerful  appearance:  the  lamps  round  the  mirror- 
lined  pillars  were  all  lit,  and  the  musicians  were  just  striking  up  the 
opening  bars  of  the  Lancers;  upon  which  several  gentlemen  among 
the  assembly,  which  now  numbered  about  forty,  ran  out  into  the 
open  and  took  up  positions,  like  color-sergeants  at  drill,  to  be 
presently  joined,  in  some  bashfulness,  by  such  ladies  as  desired 
partners. 

The  Lancers  were  performed  with  extreme  conscientiousness,  and 
when  it  was  over,  every  gentleman  with  any  sawirfaire  to  speak  of 
presented  his  partner  with  a  glass  of  beer. 

Then  came  a  waltz,  to  which  Ada  beat  time  impatiently  with  her 
foot,  and  bit  her  lip,  as  she  had  to  look  on  by  Leander's  side. 
"  There's  Bella  and  .James  going  round,"  she  said;  "  I've  never  had 
to  sit  out  a  waltz  before." 

He  felt  the  implied  reproach,  and  thought  whether  there  could 
be  any  harm  after  all  in  taking  a  turn  or  two;  it  would  be  only 
polite.  But  before  he  could  recant  in  words,  a  soldier  came  up,  a 
medium-sized  warrior  with  a  large  nose  and  round  little  eyes,  who 
had  been  very  funny  during  the  Lancers  in  directing  all  the  figures 
bywords  of  military  command.  "Will  you  allow^  me  the  honor, 
miss,  of  just  one  round?"  he  said  to  Ada,  respectfully  enough. 

The  etiquette  of  this  ball-room  was  not  of  the  strictest;  but  she 
would  not  have  consented  but  for  the  desire  of  showing  Leander 
that  she  was  not  dependent  upon  him  for  her  amusement.  As  it 
was,  she  accepted  the  corporal's  arm  a  little  defiantly. 

Leander  watched  them  round  the  hall  with  an  odd  sensation, 
almost  of  jealousy— it  was  quite  ridiculous,  because  he  could  have 
danced  with  Ada  himself  had  he  cared  to  do  so;  and  besides,  it  was 
not  she,  but  ]Matilda,  whom  he  adored. 

But,  as  he  began  to  notice,  Ada  was  looking  remarkably  pretty 
that  evening,  and  really  was  a  partner  who  would  bring  any  one 
credit;  and  her  corporal  danced  villainously,  revolving  with  stiff 
and  wooden  jerks,  like  a  toy  soldier.  Now  Leander  flattered  him- 
self he  colild  waltz— having  had  considerable  practice  in  by-gone 
days  in  a  select  assembly,  where  the  tickets  were  two  shillings  each, 
and  the  gentlemen,  as  Uie  notices  said  obscurely  enough,  "were 
restricted  to  wearing  gloves." 

So  he  felt  indignantly  that  Ada  was  not  having  justice  done  to 
her.  "  I've  a  good  mind  to  give  her  a  turn,"  he  thought,  "  and 
show  them  all  what  waltzing  is!" 

Just  then  the  pair  happened  to  come  to  a  halt  close  to  him. 
"  Shockin'  time  they're  playing  this  waltz  in,"  he  heard  the  soldier 
exclaim  with  humorous  vivacity  (he  was  apparently  the  funny  man 
of  the  regiment,  and  had  brought  a  silent  but  appreciative  comrade 


12  THE    TINTED    TENUS. 

with  him  as  audience),  "abominable!  excruciatin* !  comic!!  *or- 
rible!!!" 

Leander  seized  the  opportunity.  "  Excuse  me,"  he  said  politely, 
"  but  if  you  don't  like  the  music,  perhaps  you  wouldn't  mind  giving 
up  this  young  lady  to  me." 

"Oh,  come,  I  say!"  said  the  man  of  war,  running  his  fingers 
through  his  short  curly  hair,  "my  good  feller,  you'd  better  see  what 
the  lady  says  to  that!"    (He  evidently  had  no  doubt  himself.) 

"  I'na  very  well  content  as  I  am,  thank  you  all  the  same,  Mr. 
Tweddle,"  said  Ada,  unkindly  adding,  in  a  lower  tone,  "  If  you're 
so  anxious  to  dance,  dance  with  Terpsy-chore ! " 

And  again  he  was  left  to  watch  the  whirling  couples  with 
melancholy  eyes.  The  corporal's  brother-in-arms  was  wheeling 
round  with  a  plain  young  person,  apparently  in  domestic  service, 
whose  face  was  overspread  by  a  large  red  smile  of  satiated  ambi- 
tion. James  and  Bella  flitted  by,  dancing  vigorously,  and  Bulla's 
discontent  seemed  to  have  vanished  for  the  lime.  There  were  jig- 
ging couples  and  prancing  couples;  couples  that  bounced  round 
like  imprisoned  bees,  and  couples  that  glided  past  in  calm  and  con- 
scious superiority.  He  alone  stood  apart,  excluded  from  the  happy 
throng,  and  he  began  to  have  a  pathetic  sense  of  injury. 

But  the  music  stopped  at  last,  and  Ada,  dismissing  her  partner, 
came  toward  him. 

"  You  don't  seem  to  be  enjoying  yourself,  Mr.  Tweddle,"  she 
said  maliciously. 

"  Don't  I?"  he  replied.  "  Well,  so  long  as  you  are,  it  don't 
matter.  Miss  Parkinson— it  don't  matter." 

"  But  I'm  not — at  least,  I  didn't  that  dance,"  she  said;  "that 
soldier  man  did  talk  such  rubbish,  and  he  trod  on  my  feet  twice. 
I'm  so  hot!     I  wonder  if  it's  cooler  outside?" 

"  Will  you  come  and  see?"  he  suggested,  and  this  time  she  did 
not  disdain  his  arm,  and  they  strolled  out  together. 

Following  a  path  tliey  had  hitherto  left  unexplored,  they  came  to 
a  little  inclosure  surrounded  b}^  tall  shrubs;  in  the  center,  upon  a 
low  pedestal,  stood  a  female  statue,  upon  which  a  gas-lamp  some 
paces  off  cast  a  flickering  gleam  athwart  the  foliage. 

The  exceptional  grace  and  beauty  of  the  figure  would  have  been 
apparent  to  any  lover  of  art.  She  stood  there,  her  right  arm  raised, 
partly  in  gracious  invitation,  partly  in  queenly  command,  her  left 
hand  extended,  palm  downward,  as  if  to  be  reverentially  saluted. 
The  hair  w^as  parted  in  boldly  indicated  waves  over  the  broad,  low 
brow,  and  confined  by  a  fillet  in  a  large,  loose  knot  at  the  back. 
She  was  clad  in  a  long  chiton,  which  lapped  in  soft  zig  zag  folds 
over  the  girdle  and  fell  to  the  feet  in  straight  parallel  lines,  and  a 
chlamys  hanging  from- her  shoulders  concealed  the  left  arm  to  the 
elbow,  while  it  left  the  right  arm  free. 

In  the  uncertain  light  one  could  easily  fancy  soft  eyes  swimming 
in  those  wide  blank  sockets,  and  the  ripe  lips  were  curved  by  a 
dreamy  smile,  at  once  tender  and  disdainful. 

Leander  Tweddle  and  Miss  Ada  Parkinson,  however,  stood  before 
the  statue  in  an  unmoved,  not  to  say  critical,  mood. 

•"  Who's  she  supposed  to  be,  I  w^onder?"  asked  the  young  lady, 
rather  as  if  the  sculptor  were  a  harmless  lunatic  whose  delusions 


THE    TIKTED    VENtJS.  13 

took  a  marble  sliape  occasionally.  This,  by  the  way,  k  a  qnestioa 
•which  may  frequently  be  heard  in  picture  galleries,  and  implies  an 
enlightened  tolerance, 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  Leander;  "  a  foreign  female,  I  fanc}'— that's 
Russian  on  the  pedestal."  He  inferred  this  from  a  resemblance  to 
the  characters  on  certain  packets  of  cigarettes. 

"  But  there's  some  English  underneath,"  said  Ada;  "I  can  just 
make  it  out.     Ap—  Apro—  Aprodyte.     What  a  funny  name!" 

"You  haven't  prenounced  it  quite  correckly,"  he  said;  "out 
there  they  sound  the  ph  like  a  f,  and  give  all  the  syllables — Afrod- 
dity."  He  felt  a  kind  of  intuition  that  this  was  nearer  the  correct 
rendering. 

"  Well,"  observed  Ada,  "  she's  got  a  silly  look,  don't  you  think?" 

Leander  was  less  narrow,  and  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  she  had 
been  "  done  from  a  fine  woman."  Ada  remarked  that  she  herself 
would  never  consent  to  be  taken  in  so  unbecoming  a  costume. 
"  One  might  as  well  have  no  figure  at  all  in  things  hanging  down 
for  all  the  world  like  a  sack,"  she  said. 

Proceeding  to  details,  she  was  struck  by  the  smallness  of  the 
hands;  and  it  must  be  admitted  that,  although  the  statue  as  a 
whole  was  slightly  above  the  average  female  height,  the  arms  from 
the  elbow  downward,  and  particularly  the  hands,  were  by  no  means 
in  proportion,  and  almost  justified  Miss  Parkinson's  objection,  that 
"  no  woman  could  have  hands  so  small  as  that." 

"  I  know  some  one  who  has — quite  as  small,"  said  he  softly. 

Ada  instantly  drew  off  one  of  the  crimson  gloves  and  held  out  her 
hand  beside  the  statue's.  It  was  a  well-shaped  hand,  as  she  very 
well  knew,  but  it  was  decidedly  larger  than  the  one  with  which  she 
compared  it.  "1  said  so,"  she  observed;  "now  are  you  satisfied, 
Mr.  Tweddle?" 

But  he  had  been  thinking  of  a  hand  more  slender  and  dainty 
than  hers,  and  allowed  himself  to  admit  as  much.  "  I— I  wasn't 
meaning  you  at  all,"  he  said  bluntly. 

She  laughed  a  little  jarring  laugh.  "Oh,  Matilda,  of  course! 
Nobody  is  like  Matilda  now!  But  come,  Mr.  Tweddle,  you're  not 
going  to  stand  there  and  tell  me  that  this  w^onderful  Matilda  of 
yours  has  hands  no  bigger  than  those?" 

"  She  has  been  endowed  with  quite  remarkable  small  hands," 
said  he;  "  you  wouldn't  believe  it  without  seeing.  It  so  happens," 
he  added  suddenly,  "  that  t  can  give  you  a  very  fair  ideer  of  the 
size  they  are,  for  I've  got  a  ring  of  hers  in  my  pocket  at  this  mo- 
ment. It  came  about  this  way:  my  aunt  (the  same  that  used  to  let 
her  second  floor  to  James,  and  that  Malilda  lodges  with  at  present), 
my  aunt,  as  soon  as  she  heard  of  our  being  engaged,  nothing  would 
do  but  1  must  give  Matilda  an  old  ring  with  a  posy  inside  it,  that 
was  in  our  family,  and  we  soon  found  the  ring  was  too  large  to  keep 
on,  and  I  left  it  with  old  Vidler,  near  my  phice  of  business,  to  be 
made  tighter,  and  called  for  it  on  my  way  here  this  very  afternoon, 
and  fortunately  enough  it  was  ready." 

He  took  out  the  ring  from  its  bed  of  pink  cotton  wool,  and  of- 
fered it  to  Miss  Parkinson, 

"  You  see  if  you  can  get  it  on,"  he  said;  "  try  the  little  finger!" 

Sh«  drew  back,  offended.     "2  don't  want  to  try  it,  thank  you," 


14  THE    TINTED    VEN'trS. 

she  said  (she  felt  as  if  she  miirlit  r-ing  it  into  the  bushes  if  she  al- 
lowed herself  to  touch  it).  "  if  3^ou  must  try  it  on  somebody,  there's 
the  statue!  You'll  find  no  difficulty  in  getting  it  on  any  of  her  fin- 
gers— or  thumbs,"  she  added, 

"  You  shall  see,"  said  Leander;  "my  belief  is,  it's  too  small  for 
her,  if  anything." 

He  was'a  true  lover;  anxious  to  vindicate  his  lady's  perfections 
before  all  the  world,  and  perhaps  to  convince  himself  that  his  esti- 
mate was  not  exaggerated.  The  proof  was  so  easy,  the  statue's  left 
hand  hung  temptingly  within  his  reach;  he  accepted  the  challenge, 
and  slipped  the  ring  up  the  third  finger,  that  was  slightly  raised  as 
if  to  receive  it.  Tlie  hand  struck  no  chill,  so  moist  and  mild  "was 
the  evening,  but  felt  warm  and  almost  soft  in  his  grasp. 

"There,"  he  said,  triumphantly,  "it  might  have  been  made  for 
her!" 

"Well,"  said  Ada,  not  too  consistently,  "  I  never  said  it  mightn't ! " 

"Excuse  me,"  said  he,  "but  you  said  it  would  be  too  large  for 
her;  and,  if  you'll  believe  me,  it's  as  much  as  1  can  do  to  get  it  off 
her  finger,  it  fits  that  close." 

"  Well,  make  haste  and  get  it  off,  Mr.  Tweddle,  do,"  said  Ada, 
impatiently;   "  I've  stayed  out  quite  long  enough." 

"  In  one  moment,"  he  replied;  "  it's  quite  a  job,  I  declare,  quite 
a  job!" 

"  Oh,  you  men  are  so  clumsy!"  cried  Ada,  "let  me  try." 

"No,  no!"  he  said,  rather  irritably,  "  I  can  manage  it,"  and  he 
continued  to  fumble. 

At  last  he  looked  over  his  shoulder  and  said,  "  It's  a  singler  suc- 
cumstance,  but  I  can't  get  the  ring  past  the  bend  in  the  finger." 

Ada  was  cruel  enough  to  burst  out  laughing.  "  It's  a  judgment 
upon  you,  Mr.  Tweddle,"  she  cried. 

"You  dared  me  to  It,"  he  retorted;  "it  isn't  friendly  of  you,  I 
must  say.  Miss  Parkinson,  to  set  there  enjoying  of  it — it's  bad 
taste ! " 

"  Well,  then,  I'm  very  sorry,  Mr.  Tweddle;  I  won't  laugh  any 
more;  but  for  goodness'  sake  take  me  back  to  the  Hall  now." 

"  It's  coming!"  he  said;  "I'm  working  it  over  the  joint  now — 
it's  coming  quite  easily." 

"But  I  can't  wait  here  while  it  comes,"  she  said;  "  do  3'ou  want 
me  to  go  back  alone?  You're  not  very  polite  to  me  this  evening,  I 
must  say." 

"  What  am  I  to  do?"  he  said,  distractedly;  "this  ring  is  my  en- 
gagement-ring; it's  valuable.     I  can't  go  away  without  it!" 

"  The  statue  won't  run  away — you  can  come  back  again  by  and 
by.  You  don't  expect  me  to  spend  the  rest  of  the  evening  out  here? 
I  never  thought  you  could  be  rude  to  a  lady,  Mr.  Tweddle." 

"  No  more" I  can."  he  said.  "  Your  wishes.  Miss  Ada,  are  equiv- 
ocal to  commands;  allow  me  the  honor  of  reconducting  you  to  the 
Baronial  Hall." 

He  offered  his  arm  in  his  best  manner;  she  took  it,  and  together 
they  passed  out  of  the  inclosure,  leaving  the  statue  in  undisturbed 
possession  of  the  ring. 


THE    TINTED    VENUi.  15 


CHAPTER   II. 

PLEASURE  IN  PURSUIT. 

"  And  you,  great  sculptor,  so  you  gave 
A  score  of  years  to  Art,  her  slave, 
And  that's  your  Venus,  whence  we  turn 
To  yonder  girl." 

Another  waltz  had  just  besjun  as  they  re-entered  the  Baronial 
Hall,  and  Ada  glanced  up  at  her  companion  from  her  daring  brown 
eyes.  *'  What  would  you  say  if  I  told  you  you  might  have  this 
dance  with  me?"  she  inquired. 

The  hair-dresser  hesitated  for  just  one  moment.  He  had  meant 
to  leave  her  there  and  go  back  for  his  ring;  but  the  waltz  they  were 
playing  was  a  very  enticing  one.  Ada  was  looking  uncommonly 
pretty  just  then ;  he  could  get  the  ring  equally  well  a  few  minutes 
later.  "  1  should  take  it  very  kind  of  you,"  he  said,  gratefully,  at 
length.     "  Ask  for  it,  then,"  said  Ada;  and  he  did  ask  for  it. 

He  forgot  Matilda  and  his  engagement  for  the  moment;  he  sac- 
rificed all  his  scruples  about  dancing  in  public;  but  he  somehov?" 
failed  to  enjoy  this  pleasure,  illicit  though  it  was. 

For  one  thing,  he  could  not  long  keep  Matilda  out  of  his 
thoughts.  He  was  doing  nothing  positively  wrong;  still,  it  was  un- 
deniable that  she  would  not  approve  of  his  being  there  at  all,  still 
less  if  she  knew  that  the  gold  ring  given  to  him  by  his  aunt  for  the 
purposes  of  his  betrothal  had  been  left  on  the  finger  of  a  foreign 
statue,  and  exposed  to  the  mercy  of  any  passer-by,  while  he  waltzed 
with  a  bonnet-maker's  assistant. 

And  his  conscience  was  awakened  still  further  by  the  discovery 
that  Ada  w^as  a  somewhat  disappointing  partner.  "She's  not  so 
light  as  she  used  to  be," he  thought,  "  and  then  she  jumps.  I'd  for- 
gotten she  jumped." 

Before  the  waltz  was  nearly  over  he  led  her  back  to  a  chair, 
alleging  as  his  excuse  that  he  was  afraid  to  abandon  his  ring  any 
longer,  and  hastened  away  to  the  spot  where  it  was  to  be  found. 

He  went  along  the  same  path,  and  soon  came  to  an  inclosure; 
but  no  sooner  had  he  entered  it  than  he  saw  that  lie  must  have  mis- 
taken his  way;  this  was  not  the  right  place:  there  was  no  statue  iii 
the  middle. 

Pie  was  about  to  turn  away,  when  he  saw  something  that  made 
him  start;  it  was  a  low  pedestal  in  the  center,  with  tlie  same  char- 
acters upon  it  that  he  had  read  with  Ada.  It  was  the  place,  after 
all ;  yes,  he  could  not  be  mistaken ;  he  knev/  it  now. 

Where  was  the  statue  which  had  so  lately  occupied  that  pedestal? 
Had  it  fallen  over  amongst  the  bushes?  He  felt  about  for  it  in  vain; 
it  must  have  been  removed  for  some  purpose  while  he  had  beea 
dancing,  but  by  whom,  and  why? 

The  best  way  to  find  out  would  be  to  ask  some  one  in  authority. 
The  manager  was  in  the  Baronial  Hall,  otllciating  as  jM.  C;  he 
would  go  and  inquire  whether  the  removal  had  been  by  his  orders. 


16  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

He  was  fortunate  enou,2:h  to  catch  him  as  he  was  comiBg  out  of 
the  Hall,  and  he  seized  him  by  the  arm  with  nervous  hasfe.  "  Mis- 
ter," he  began,  "  if  youv'e  found  one  of  your  plaster  flexures  with  a 
gold  ring  on,  it's  mine.  I — I  put  it  on  in  a  joking  kind  of  way,  and 
I  had  to  leave  it  for  a  while ;  and  now,  when  I  come  back  for  it, 
it's  gone." 

"  I'm  sorry  to  hear  it,  sir,"  returned  the  manager;  "but  really, 
if  you  will  leave  gold  rings  on  our  statues,  we  can't  be  responsible, 
you  know," 

"  But  you'll  excuse  me,"  pursued  Leander;  "  I  don't  think  you 
quite  understand  me.  It  isn't  only  the  ring  that's  gone — it's  the 
statue;  and  if  you've  had  it  put  up  anywhere  else — " 

"Nonsense,"  said  the  manager;  "we  don't  move  our  statues 
about  like  chessmen ;  you've  forgotten  where  you  left  it,  that's  all. 
What  was  the  statue  like?" 

Leander  described  it  as  well  as  he  could,  and  the  manager,  with 
p.  somewhat  altered  manner,  made  him  point  out  the  spot  where  he 
believed  it  to  have  stood,  and  they  entered  the  grove  together. 

The  man  gave  one  rapid  glance  at  the  vacant  pedestal,  and  then 
gripped  Leander  by  the  shoulder,  and  looked  at  him  long  and  hard 
by  the  feeble  light.  "  Answer  me,"  he  said  roughly;  "  is  this  some 
lark  of  yours?" 

"I  look  larky,  don't  I?"  said  poor  Tweddle,  dolefully.  "I 
thought  5'^ou'd  be  sure  to  know  where  it  was," 

"  I  wish  to  Heaven  I  did  I"  cried  the  manager,  passionately;  "it's 
those  impudent  blackguards.  They've  done  it  under  my  very 
nose ! " 

"  If  it's  any  of  your  men,"  suggested  Leander,  "  can't  you  make 
them  put  it  back  again?  " 

"It's  not  any  of  my  men.  I  was  warned,  and,  like  a  fool,  I 
W'ouldn't  believe  it  could  be  done  at  a  time  like  this;  and  now  it's 
too  late,  and  what  am  I  to  say  to  the  inspector?  I  wouldn't  have 
had  this  happen  for  a  thousand  pounds!" 

"  Well,  it's  kind  of  you  to  feel  so  put  out  about  it,"  said  Lean- 
der.    "  You  see,  what  makes  the  ring  so  valuable  to  me — " 

The  manager  was  pacing  up  and  down  impatiently,  entirely  ig- 
noring his  presence,  "  I  say,"  Tweddle  repeated,  "  the  reason  why 
that  ring's  of  particklar  importance — " 

"Oh,  don't  bother  me/"  said  the  other,  shaking^  him  off,  "I 
don't  want  to  be  uncivil,  but  I've  got  to  think  this  out.  Infernal 
rascals!"  he  went  on  muttering. 

"  Have  the  goodness  to  hear  what  I've  got  to  say  though."  per- 
sisted Leander.  "  I'm  mixed  up  in  this,  whether  you  like  it  or  not; 
you  seem  to  know  who's  got  this  tigure,  and  I've  a  right  to  be  told, 
too.  I  won't  go  till  I  get  that  ring  back;  so  aow  you  understand 
me." 

"Confound  you  and  your  ring!"  said  the  manager.  "What's 
the  good  of  coming  bully-ragging  me  about  your  ring?  2  can't  get 
you  your  ring!  You  shouldn't  have  been  fool  enough  to  put  it  on 
one  of  our  statues.  You  make  me  talk  to  you  like  this,  coming 
bothering  when  I've  enough  on  my  mind  as  it  is!  Hang  it!  Can't 
you  see  I'm  as  anxious  to  get  that  statue  again  as  ever  you  can  be? 
If  I  don't  get  it,  I  may  be  a  ruined  man,  for  all  I  know;  ain't  that 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  17 

enough  for  you?  Look  here,  take  my  advice  and  leave  me  alone 
before  we  have  words  over  this.  You'give  me  your  name  and  ad- 
dress, and  you  may  rely  on  hearing  from  me  as  soon  as  anything 
turns  up.  You  can  do  no  good  to  yourself  or  any  one  else  by  mak- 
ing a  row:  so  go  away  quiet  like  a  sensible  chap!" 

Leander  felt  stunned  by  the  blow;  evidently  there  was  nothing  to 
be  done  but  follow  the  manager's  advice.  He  went  to  the  office 
with  him,  and  gave  his  name  and  address  in  full,  and  then  turned 
back  alone  to  the  dancing-hall. 

He  had  lost  his  ring— no  ordinary  trinket  which  he  could  pur- 
chase anywhere,  but  one  for  which  he  would  have  to  account — and 
to  whom?  To  his  aunt  and  Matilda.  How  could  he  tell  when 
there  was  even  a  chance  of  seeing  it  again? 

If  only  he  had  not  allowed  himself  that  waltz;  if  only  he  had  in- 
sisted upon  remaining  by  the  statue  until  his  ring  was  removed;  if 
only  he  had  not  been  such  an  idiot  as  to  put  it  on!  None  of  these 
acts  were  wrong  exactly ;  but  between  them  they  had  brought  him 
to  this. 

And  the  chief  person  responsible  was  Miss  Ada  Parkinson,  whom 
he  dared  not  reproach ;  for  he  was  naturally  unwilling  that  this 
last  stage  of  the  affair  should  become  known.  He  would  have  to 
dissemble,  and  he  rejoined  his  party  with  what  he  intended  for  a 
jaunty  air. 

"  We've  been  waiting  for  you  to  go  away,"  said  Bella.  "  Where 
have  you  been  all  this  time?" 

He  saw  with  relief  that  Ada  did  not  appear  to  have  mentioned  the 
statue,  and  so  he  said  he  had  been  "  strolling  about."  "  And  Ada 
left  to  take  care  of  herself!"  said  Bella,  spitefully.  "You  are  po- 
ite,  Mr.  Tweddle,  I  must  say!" 

"  1  haven't  complained,  Bella,  that  I  know  of,"  said  Ada.  "  And 
Mr.  Tw^eddle  and  1  quite  understand  each  other,  don't  we?" 

"Oh!"  said  Bella,  with  an  altered  manner  and  a  side-glance  at 
James,  "  I  didn't  know.     I'm  very  glad  to  hear  it,  I'm  sure." 

And  then  they  left  the  gardens,  and.  after  a  substantial  meal  at  a 
river-side  hotel,  started  on  the  homeward  journey,  with  the  sense 
that  their  expedition  had  not  been  precisely  a  success. 

As  before,  they  had  a  railway  compartment  to  themselves.  Bella 
declined  to  talk,  and  lay  back  in  her  corner  with  closed  eyes  and  an 
expression  of  undeserved  suffering,  whilst  the  unfortunate  Jauucy 
sat  silent  and  miserable  opposite. 

Leander  would  have  liked  to  be  silent  too,  and  think  out  his 
position;  but  Ada  would  not  hear  of  this.  Her  jealous  resentment 
had  appnrently  vanished,  and  she  was  extremely  lively  and  playful 
in  her  sallies. 

This  reached  a  pitch  when  she  bent  forward,  and.  in  a  whisper 
which  she  did  not  perhaps  intend  to  be  quite  confuk'utial,  said, 
"Oh,  Mr.  Tweddle,  you  never  told  me  what  became  of  the  ring  1 
Is  it  off  at  last?" 

"Off?  yes!"  he  said,  irritably,  very  nearly  adding,  "and  the 
statue  too." 

"  Weren't  you  very  glad?"  she  said. 

"Uncommonly,"  he  replic(i,  grindy. 

"  Let  me  see  it  again,  now  you've  got  it  back,"  she  pleaded. 


18  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

"  You'll  excuse  me,"  he  said ;  "but  after  what  has  taken  place,  I 
can't  show  that  ring  to  anybody." 

"Then  you're  a  cross  thing,"  said  Ada,  pouting. 
"What's  the  matter  with  you  two  over  there?"  asked  Bella, 
sleepily. 

Ada's  eyes  sparkled  with  mischief.  "  Let  me  tell  them;  it  is  too 
awfully  funny.  I  must!"  she  whispered  to  Leander.  "It's  all 
about  a  ring,"  she  began,  and  enjoyed  poor  Tweddle's  evident  dis- 
comfort. 

"  A  ring?"  cried  Bella,  waking  up.  "  Don't  keep  all  the  fun  to 
yourselves;  we've  not  had  so  much  of  it  this  evening." 

"  Miss  A<]a,"  said  Leander  in  great  agitation,  "J  ask  you,  as  a 
lady,  to  treat  what  has  happened  this  evening  in  the  strictest  confi- 
dence for  the  present!" 

"  Secrets,  Ada?"  cried  her  sister;   "  upon  my  word!" 

"  Why,  Where's  the  harm,  Mr.  Tweddle,  now  it's  all  settled?" 
exclaimed  Ada.  "  Bella,  il  is  only  this:  he  went  and  put  a  ring 
(now  do  wait  till  I've  done,  Mr.  Tweddle!)  on  a  certain  person's 
finger  out  in  those  Rosherwich  Gardens  (you  see,  I've  not  said  whose 
finger)." 

"  Hello,  Tweddle?"  cried  Jauncy,  in  some  bewilderment.  Lean- 
der could  only  cast  a  look  of  miserable  appeal  at  him. 

"Shall  I  tell  them  any  more,  Mr.  Tweddle?"  said  Ada,  persist- 
ently. 

"I  don't  think  there's  any  necessity,"  he  pleaded. 

"  No  more  do  I,"  put  in  Bella,  archly.  "  1  think  we  can  guess 
the  rest." 

Ada  did  not  absolutely  make  any  further  disclosures  that  even- 
ing; but  for  the  rest  of  the  journey  she  amused  herself  by  keeping 
the  hair-dresser  in  perpetual  torment  by  her  pretended  revelations, 
until  he  was  thoroughly  disgusted. 

No  longer  could  he  admire  her  liveliness;  he  could  not  even  see 
that  she  was  good-looking  now.  "  She's  nothing  but  chaff,  chaff, 
chaff!"  he  thought.  "  Tiiank  goodness,  Matilda  isn't  given  that 
way;  chaff  before  marriage  means  nagging  after!" 

They  reached  the  terminus  at  last,"when  he  willingly  said  fare- 
well to  the  other  three.  "  Good-bye,  Mr.  Tweddle,"  said  Bella,  in 
rather  a  more  cordial  tone;  "  I  needn't  hope  you^a  enjoyed  your- 
self!" 

"  You  needn't !"  he  replied,  almost  savagely. 

"Good-night,"  said  Ada,  and  added  in  a  whisper,  "don't  go 
and  dream  of  3'our  statue- woman." 

"  If  I  dream  to-night  at  all,"  he  said,  between  his  teeth,  "  it  will 
be  a  nightmare!" 

"  I  suppose  Tweddle,  old  chaD,"  said  Jauncy,  as  he  shook  hands, 
"  you  know  your  own  affairs  best;  but  if  you  meant  what  you  told 
me  coming  down,  you've  been  going  it,  haven't  you?" 

He  left  "Leander  wondering  impatiently  what  he  meant.  Did  he 
know  the  truth?  Well,  everybody  might  know  it  before  long;  there 
would  probably  be  a  fuss  about  it  all,  and  the  best  thing  he  could  do 
would  be  to  tell  Matilda  at  once,  and  throw  himself  upon  her  mercy. 
After  all,  it  was  innocent  enough— if  she  could  only  be  brought  to 
believe  it. 


THE    TINTED    VENTJS.  19 

He  did  not  look  forward  to  telling  her;  and  by  the  time  he 
reached  tlie  Bank  and  j;ot  into  an  omnibus,  he  was  in  a  highly 
nervous  state,  as  the  following  incident  may  serve  to  show. 

He  had  taken  one  of  those  uncomfortable  private  omnibuses, 
where  the  passengers  are  left  in  unlightened  gloom.  He  sat  by  the 
door,  and  occupied  as  he  was  by  his  own  misfortunes,  paid  little 
attention  to  his  surroundings. 

But  by  and  by  he  became  aware  that  the  conductor,  in  collecting 
the  fares,  was  trying  to  attract  the  notice  of  some  one  who  sat  in 
the  further  corner  of  the  vehicle,  "  Where  are  you  for,  lady, 
please?"  he  asked  repeatedly,  and  at  last,  "  Will  somebody  ask  the 
lady  up  the  end  where  I  am  to  set  her  down?"  to  all  of  which  the 
eccentric  person  addressed  returned  no  reply  whatever. 

Leander's  attention  was  thus  directed  to  her;  but  although  in 
the  obscurit}^  he  could  make  out  nothing  but  a  dim  form  in  gray, 
his  nerves  were  so  unsettled  that  he  felt  a  curiously  uneasy  fancy 
that  eyes  were  being  tixed  upon  him  in  the  darkness. 

This  continued  until  a  moment  when  some  electric  lights  sud- 
denly flashed  into  the  omnibus  as  it  passed,  and  lit  up  the  whole 
interior  with  a  ghastly  glare,  in  which  the  gray  female  became  dis- 
tinctly visible. 

He  caught  his  breath  and  shrunk  into  the  corner,  for  in  that  mo- 
ment his  excited  imagination  had  traced  a  strange  resemblance  to 
the  figure  he  had  left  in  Rosherwich  Gardens.  The  inherent  im- 
probability of  finding  a  classical  statue  seated  in  an  omnibus  did 
not  occur  to  him  in  the  state  his  mind  was  in  just  then.  He  sat 
there  fascinated,  until  lights  shone  in  once  more,  and  he  saw,  or 
thought  he  saw,  the  figure  slowly  raise  her  hand  and  beckon  to 
him. 

That  was  enough;  he  started  up  with  a  smothered  cry,  thrust  a 
coin  into  the  conductor's  hand,  and,  without  waiting  for  change, 
flung  himself  from  the  omnibus  in  full  motion. 

When  its  varnished  sides  had  ceased  to  gleam  in  the  light  of  the 
lamps,  and  its  lumbering  form  had  been  swallowed  up  in  the  au- 
tumn haze,  he  began  to  feel  what  a  coward  his  imagination  had 
made  of  him. 

"  My  nightmare's  begun  already,"  he  thought;  "  still,  she  was  so 
surprisingly  like,  it  did  give  me  a  turn.  They  oughtn't  to  let  such 
crazy  females  into  public  conveyances!" 

Fortunately  his  panic  had  not  seized  him  until  he  was  within  a 
short  distance  from  Bloomsbury,  and  it  did  not  take  him  long  to 
reach  Queen  Square  and  his  shop  in  the  passage.  He  let  himself  in, 
and  went  up  to  a  little  room  on  an  upper  floor,  which  he  used  as  his 
sitting-room.  The  person  who  "  looked  after  him  "  did  not  sleep 
on  the  premises;  but  she  had  laid  a  fire  and  left  out  his  tea-things. 
"  I'll  have  some  tea."  he  thought,  as  he  lit  the  gas  and  saw  them 
there.  "  1  feel  as  if  I  want  cheering  up,  and  it  can't  make  me  any 
more  shaky  than  I  am." 

And  when  his  fire  was  crackling  and  blazing  up.  and  his  kettle 
beginning  to  sing,  he  felt  more  cheerful  already.  What,  after  all,  if 
it  did  take  some  time  to  get  his  ring  again?  He  must  make  some 
excuse  or  other;  and,  should  the  worst  come  to  the  worst,  "  I  sup- 
pose," he  thought,  "  I  could  get  another  made  like  it — though,  when 


20  THE    TINTED    VENtJS. 

I  come  to  think  of  it,  I'll  be  shot  if  I  remember  exactly  what  it  was 
like,  or  what  the  words  iuside  it  were,  to  be  sure  about  them;  still, 
ver}'^  likely  old  Vidler  would  recollect,  and  I  dessay  it  won't  turn 
out  to  be  necessa —    What  the  devil's  that?" 

He  had  the  house  to  himself  after  nightfall,  and  he  remembered 
that  his  private  door  could  not  be  opened  now  without  a  special 
key,  and  yet  he  could  not  help  a  fancy  that  some  one  was  groping 
his  way  up  the  staircase  outside, 

"It's  only  the  boards  creaking,  or  the  pipes  leaking  through,"  he 
thought.  "  I  must  have  the  place  done  up.  But  I'm  as  nervous  as 
a  cat  to-night." 

The  steps  were  nearer  and  nearer — they  stopped  at  the  door — 
there  was  a  loud  commanding  blow  on  the  panels. 

"  Who's  here  at  this  time  of  night?"  cried  Leander,  aloud. 
"  Come  in,  if  you  want  to!" 

But  the  door  remained  shut,  and  there  came  another  rap,  even 
more  imperious. 

"I shall  go  mad  if  this  goes  on!"  he  muttered,  and  making  a 
desperate  rush  to  the  door,  threw  it  wide  open,  and  then  staggered 
back  panic-stricken. 

Upon  the  threshold  stood  a  tall  figure  in  classical  drapery  ;  his 
eyes  might  have  deceived  him  in  the  omnibus  ;  but  here,  in  the 
crude  gaslight,  he  could  not  be  mistaken.  It  was  the  statue  he  had 
last  seen  in  Rosherwich  Gardens — now,  in  some  strange  and  won- 
drous way,  moving — alive  1 


CHAPTER  III. 

A  DISTINGUISHED  STRANGEB. 

How  could  it  be  a  dream?    Yet  there 
She  stood,  the  moveless  image  fair! 

The  Earthly  Paradise. 

With  slow  and  stately  tread  the  statue  advanced  toward  the 
center  of  the  hair  dresser's  humble  sitting  room,  and  stood  there 
awhile,  gazing  about  her  with  something  of  scornful  wonder  in  her 
calm,  cold  face.  As  she  turned  her  head,  the  wide,  deeply-cut 
sockets  seemed  the  home  of  shadowy  eyes;  her  face,  her  bared 
arms,  and  the  long  straight  folds  of  her  robe  were  all  of  the  same 
grayish-yellow  hue;  the  "boards  creaked  under  her  sandaled  feet, 
and  Leander  felt  that  he  had  never  heard  of  a  more  appallingly 
massive  ghost — if  ghost  indeed  she  were. 

He  had  retired  step  by  step  before  her  to  the  hearth-rug,  where 
he  now  stood  shivering,  with  the  fire  hot  at  his  back,  and  his  kettle 
still  singing  on  undismayed.  He  made  no  attempt  to  account  for 
her  presence  there  on  any  rationalizing  theory.  A  statue  had  sud- 
denly come  to  life,  and  chosen  to  pay  him  a  nocturnal  visit;  he 
knew  no  more  than  that,  except  that  he  would  have  given  worlds 
for  courage  to  show  it  the  door. 

The  spectral  eyes  were  bent  upon  him.  as  if  in  expectation  that 
he  would  begin  the  conversation,  and  at  last,  with  a  very  unman- 
ageable tongue,  he  managed  to  observe,  "  Did  you  want  to  see  me 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  21 

on— on  business,  mum?"  But  the  statue  only  relaxed  her  lips  in  a 
haughty  smile. 

"For  goodness'  sake,  say  something!"  he  cried  wildly,  "unless 
you  want  me  to  jump  out  of  winder!  What  is  it  you've  come 
about?" 

It  seemed  to  him  that  in  some  way  a  veil  had  lifted  from  the 
stone  face,  leaving  it  illumined  by  a  strange  light,  and  from  the 
lips  came  a  voice^^which  addressed  him  in  solemn,  far-away  tones 
as  of  one  talking  in  sleep.  He  could  not  have  said  with  certainty 
that  the  language  was  his  own,  though  somehow  he  understood  her 
perfectly. 

"  You  know  me  not?"  she  said,  with  a  kind  of  sad  indifference. 

"Well,"  Leander  admitted,  as  politely  as  his  terror  would  allow, 
"you  certainly  have  the  advantage  of  me  for  the  moment,  mum." 

"I  am  Aphrodite  the  foam-born,  the  matchless  seed  of  ^gis- 
bearing  Zeus.  Many  names  have  I  among  the  sons  of  men,  and 
many  temples,  and  I  sway  the  hearts  of  all  lovers;  and  gods — yea, 
and  mortals — have  burned  for  me,  a  goddess,  with  an  unconsuming 
unquenchable  fire!" 

"Lor!"  said  Leander.  If  he  had  not  been  so  much  flurried, 
he  might  have  found  a  remark  worthier  of  the  occasion,  but  the  an- 
nouncement that  she  was  a  goddess  took  his  breath  away;  he  had 
quite  believed  that  goddesses  were  long  since  "  gone  out." 

"  You  know  wherefore  I  am  come  hither?"  she  said. 

"Not  at  this  minute  I  don't,"  he  replied,  "  You'll  excuse  me, 
but  you  can't  be  the  statue  out  of  those  gardens?  You  really  are  so 
surprisingly  like,  that  I  couldn't  help  asliing  you." 

"  I  am^  Aphrodite,  and  no  statue.  Long — how  long  I  know  not 
— have  I  lain  entranced  in  slumber  in  my  sea-girt  isle  of  Cyprus,  and 
now  again  has  the  living  touch  of  a  mortal  hand  upon  one  of  my 
sacred  images  called  me  from  my  rest  and  given  me  power  to  ani- 
mate this  marble  shell.  Some  hand  has  placed  this  ring  upon  my 
finger:  tell  me,  was  it  yours?" 

Leander  was  almost  reassured;  after  all,  he  could  forgive  her  for 
terrifying  him  so  much,  since  she  had  come  on  so  good-natured  an 
errand. 

"Quite  correct,  mum— miss!"  (he  wished  he  knew  the  proper 
form  for  addressing  a  goddess).  "  That  ring  is  my  property.  I'm 
sure  it's  very  civil  and  friendly  of  you  to  come  all  this  way  about 
it,"  and  he  held  out  his  hand  for  it  eagerly. 

"  And  think  you  it  was  for  this  that  I  have  visited  the  face  of 
the  earth  and  the  haunts  of  men,  and  followed  your  footsteps  hither 
by  roads  strange  and  unknown  to  me?  You  are  too  modest, 
youth." 

"  I  don't  know  what  there  is  modest  in  expecting  you  to  behave 
honest!"  he  said,  rather  wondering  at  his  own  audacity. 

"How  are  you  called?"  she  inquired  suddeidy  on  this;  and 
after  hearing  the  answer,  remarked  that  the  name  was  known  to  her 
as  that  of  a  goodly  and  noble  youtii  who  had  perished  for  the  sake 
of  Hero. 

"  The  gentleman  may  have  been  a  connection  of  mine,  for  all  I 
know,"  he  said;  "the  Tweddles  have  always  kep'  themselves  re- 
spectable.    But  I'm  not  a  hero  myself,  I'm  a  hair-dresser." 


^^  THE    TI57TED    VEN-tJS. 

She  repeated  the  word  thoughtfully,  though  she  did  not  seem  to 
quite  compreheud  it;  and  indeed  it  is  lil?ely  enough  that,  however 
intelligible  she  was  to  Leander,  the  understanding  was  far  from 
being  entirely  reciprocal. 

She  extended  her  hand  to  him  smiling  not  ungraciously.  "  Le- 
ander," she  said,  "  cease  to  tremble,  for  a  great  happiness  is  yours. 
Bold  have  you  been;  yet  am  I  not  angered,  fori  come.  Cast  then 
awP7  all  fear,  and  know  that  Aphrodite  disdains  not  to  accept  a 
mortal's  plighted  troth ! " 

Leander  intrenched  himself  promptly  behind  the  arm-chair.     "  I 
don't  know  what  you're  talkfng  about!"  he  said.     "How  can  I 
lielp  fearing  when  you  come  down  on  me  like  this?     Ask  yourself." 
"  Can  you  not  understand  that  your  piayer  is  heard?"  she  de- 
manded. 

"  What  prayer?"  cried  Leander. 

"Crass  and  gross-witted  has  the  world  grown!"  said  she;  "a 
Greek  swain  would  have  needed  but  few  words  to  divine  his  bliss. 
Know  then  that  your  suit  is  accepted ;  never  yet  has  Aphrodite 
turned  the  humblest  from  her  shrine.  By  this  symbol,"  and  she 
lightl}^  touched  the  ring,  "  you  have  given  yourself  to  me.  I  accept 
the  offering— you  are  mineV' 

Leander  was  stupefied  by  such  an  unlooked-for  misconception. 
He  could  scarcely  believe  his  ears;  but  he  hastened  to  set  himself 
right  at  once. 

"  If  you  mean  that  you  were  under  the  impression  that  1  meant 
anything  in  particular  by  putting  that  ring  on,  it  was  all  a  mis- 
take, mum,"  he  said ;   "I  shouldn't  have  presumed  to  it !" 

"  Were  you  the  lowliest  of  men,  1  care  not,"  she  replied:  "to 
5^ou  I  owe  the  power  I  now  enjoy  of  life  and  vision,  nor  shall  you 
find  me  ungrateful.  But  forbear  this  false  humility;  I  like  it  not. 
Come,  then,  Leander,  at  the  bidding  of  Cyprus;  come,  and  fear 
nothing?" 

But  he  feared  very  much,  for  he  had  seen  the  operas  of  "  Don 
Giovanni  "  and  "  Zampa"  and  knew  that  any  familiary  with  statu- 
ary was  likely  to  have  unpleasant  consequences.  He  merely 
strengthened  his  defenses  with  a  chair. 

"  You  must  excuse  me,  mum,  you  must,  indeed,"  he  faltered;  "  I 
can't  come." 

"  Why?"  she  asked. 

"  Because  I've  other  engagements,"  he  replied. 
"  I  remember,"  she  said,  slowly,  "  in  the  grove,  when  light  met 
my  eyes  once  more,  there  was  a  maid  with  you,  one  who  laughed 
and  was  merry.     Answer — is  she  your  love?" 

"  No,  she  isn't,"  he  said,  shortly.     "  What  if  she  was?" 
"If  she  were,"  observed  the  goddess,  with  the  air  of  one  who 
mentioned  an  ordinary  fact,  "  I  should  crush  her!" 

"  Lord  bless  me!"  cried  Leander  in  his  horror,  "  what  for?" 
"  Would  not  she  be  in  my  path?  and  shall  any  mortal  maid  stand 
between  me  and  my  desire?" 

This  was  a  discovery.     She  was  a  jealous  and  vengeful  goddess; 
she  would  require  to  be  sedulously  humored,  or  harrn  would  come. 
"Well,  well,"  he  said,  soothingly,  "there's  nothing  of  that  sort 
about  her,  I  do  assure  you." 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  23 

"Then  I  spare  her,"  suid  the  goddess.  "But  how,  then,  if  this 
be  truly  so,  do  j^ou  still  shrink  from  the  honor  before  you?" 

Leander  felt  a  natural  unwillingness  to  explain  that  it  was  be- 
cause he  was  engaged  to  a  young  lady  who  kept  the  accounts  at  a 
florist's. 

"  Well,  the  fact  is,"  he  said,  awkwardly,  "  there's  difficulties  in 
the  way." 

"  Difficulties?    I  can  remove  them  all!"  she  said. 

"Not  these  you  can't,  mum.  It's  like  this:  You  and  me,  we 
don't  start,  so  to  speak,  from  the  same  basin.  I  don't  mean  it  as 
any  reproach  to  you,  but  you  can't  deny  you're  an  Eathen,  and, 
worse  than  that,  an  Eathen  goddess.  Now  all  my  family  have  been 
brought  up  as  chapel  folk.  Primitive  Methodists,  and  I've  been 
trained  to  have  a  horror  of  superstition  and  idolatries,  and  see  the 
folly  of  it.  So  you  can  see  for  yourself  that  we  shouldn't  be  likely 
to  get  on  together!" 

"  You  talk  words,"  she  said,  impatiently;  " but  empty  are  they, 
and  meaningless  to  my  ears.  One  thing  I  learn  from  them — that 
you  seek  to  escape  me ! " 

"  That's  putting  it  too  harsh,  mum,"  he  protested.  "  I'm  sure  I 
feel  the  honor  of  "such  a  call;  and,  by  the  way,  do  you  mind  telling 
me  how  you  got  my  address— how  you  found  me  out,  I  mean?" 

"  No  one  remains  long  hid  from  the  searching  eye  of  the  high 
gods,"  she  replied. 

"So  I  should  be  inclined  to  say,"  agreed  Leander.  "But  only 
tell  me  this,  wasn't  it  you  in  the  omnibus?  We  call  our  public  con- 
veyances omnibuses,  as  perhaps  you  mayn't  know." 

"  I,  sea-born  Aphrodite,  i  in  a  public  conveyance,  an  omnibus? 
There  is  an  impiety  in  such  a  question!" 

"  Well,  I  only  thought  it  might  have  been,"  he  stammered,  rather 
relieved  upon  the  whole  that  it  was  not  the  goddess  who  had  seen 
his  precipitate  bolt  from  the  vehicle.  Who  the  female  in  the  corner 
really  was  he  never  knew;  though  a  man  of  science  might  account 
for  the  resemblance  she  bore  to  the  statue  by  ascribing  it  to  one  of 
those  preparatory  impressions  projected  occasionally  by  a  strong 
personality  upon  a  weak  one.  But  Leander  was  content  to  leave 
the  matter  unxplained. 

"  Let  it  suffice  you,"  she  said,  "  that  I  am  here;  and  once  more, 
Leander,  are  you'prepared  to  till  the  troth  you  have  plighted?" 

"  I— 1  can't  say  I  am,"  he  said.  "  Not  that  I  don't  feel  thankful 
for  having  had  the  refusal  of  so  very  'igh-class  an  opportunity;  but, 
as  I'm  situated  at  present— what  with  the  state  of  trade,  and  un- 
belief so  rampant,  and  all— I'm  obliged  to  decline  with  respectful 
thanks." 

He  trusted  that  after  this  she  would  see  the  propriety  of  going. 

"Have  a  care,"  she  said;  "you  are  young  and  not  uncomely, 
and  my  heart  pities  yon.  Do  nothing  rash.  Pause,  ere  you  rouse 
the  implacable  ire  of  Aphrodite!" 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Leander;  "  if  you'll  allow  me,  I  will.  I  don't 
want  any  ill-feeling,  I'm  sure.  It's  my  wish  to  live  peaceable  with 
all  men." 

"  I  leave  you,  then.     Use  the  time  before  you  till  1  come  again  in 


24  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

thinking  well  whether  he  acts  wisely  who  spurns  the  proffered  hand 
of  Idalian  Aphrodite.     For  the  prcsent/farewell,  Leander." 

He  was  overjoyed  at  his  coming  deliverance.  "Good-evening, 
mum,"  he  said,  as  he  ran  to  the  door  and  held  it  open;  "  if  you'll 
allow  me,  I'll  light  you  down  the  staircase— it's  rather  dark,  I'm 
afraid." 

"  tool!"  she  said  with  scorn,  and  without  stirring  from  her  place; 
and,  as  she  spoke  the  word,  the  veil  seemed  to  descend  over  her 
face  again,  the  light  faded  out,  and,  with  a  slight  shudder,  the 
figure  imperceptibly  resumed  its  normal  attitude,  the  drapery  stifl- 
ened  into  chiseled  folds  agam,  and  the  statue  was  soulless  as  are 
statues  generally. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

FKOM  BAD  TO  WORSE. 

And  the  shadow  flits  and  fleets, 

Ajid  will  not  let  me  be, 

And  I  loathe  the  squares  and  streets! 

Maud. 

For  some  time  after  the  statue  had  ceased  to  give  signs  of  life, 
the  hair-dresser  remained  gaping,  incapable  of  thought  or  action. 
At  last  he  ventured  to  approach  cautiously,  and  on  touching  the 
figure  found  it  perfectly  cold  and  hard.  The  animating  principle 
had  plainly  departed  and  left  the  statue  a  stone. 

"  She's  gone,"  he  said,  "and  left  her  statue  behind  her!  Well, 
of  all  the  ^o€8—  She's  come  wi^Lhout  her  pedestal,  too!  To  be 
sure,  it  would  have  been  in  her  way  walking." 

Seating  himself  in  his  shabby  old  .arm-chair,  he  tried  to  collect 
his  scattered  wits.  He  scarcely  realized,  even  yet,  what  had  hap- 
pened; but,  unless  he  had  dreamed  it  all,  he  hitd  been  honored  by 
the  marked  attentions  of  a  marble  statue,  instigated  b}'-  a  heathen 
goddess,  who  insisted  that  his  affections  were  pledged  to  her. 

Perhaps  there  was  a  spice  of  flattery  in  such  a  situation— for  it 
can  not  fall  to  the  lot  of  many  hair-dressers  to  be  thus  distinguished 
—but  Leander  was  far  too  much  alarmed  to  appreciate  it.  Tiiere 
had  been  suggestions  of  menace  in  the  statue's  remarks,  which 
made  him  shudder  when  he  recalled  them,  and  he  started  violently 
Dnce  or  twice  whe"a  some  wavering  of  the  light  gave  a  play  of  life 
:o  the  marble  mask.  "  She's  coming  back,"  he  thought.  "Oh,  I 
:lo  wish  she  wouldn't!"  But  Aphrodite  continued  immovable,  and 
It  last  he  concluded  that,  as  he  put  it,  she  "she  had  done  for  the 
jvening." 

His  first  reflection  was — what  had  best  be  done?  The  wisest 
3ourse  seemed  to  be  to  send  for  the  manager  of  the  gardens,  and 
restore  the  statue  while  its  animation  was  suspended.  The  people 
it  the  gardens  wou'd  take  care  that  it  did  not  get  loose  again. 

But  there  was  the  ring,  he  must  get  that  off  first;  here  was  an 
anhoped-for  opportunity  of  accomplishing  this  in  privacy,  and  at 
his  leisure.  Again  approaching  the  figure,  he  tried  to  draw  off  the 
compromising  circle,  but  it  seemed  tighter  than  ever,  and  he  drew 
Dut  a  pair  of  scissors  and,  after  a  little  hesitation,  respectfully  in- 
serted it  under  the  hoop  and  set  to  work  to  prize  it  off,  with  the 
result  of  snapping  both  the  points,  while  leaving  the  ring  entirely 


THE    TINTED    VENtJS.  25 

unaffected.  He  glanced  at  the  face;  it  wore  the  same  dreamy 
smile,  with  a  touch  of  gentle  contempt  in  it,  "  She  don't  seem  to 
mind,"  he  said  aloud;  "to  be  sure,  she  ain't  inside  of  it  now,  as  far 
as  1  make  it  out.  I've  got  all  night  before  me  to  get  the  confounded 
thing  off,  and  I'll  go  on  till  I've  done  it!" 

But  he  labored  on  with  the  disabled  scissors,  and  only  succeeded 
iu  scratching  the  smooth  marble  a  little;  he  stopped  to  pant. 
"  There's  only  one  way,"  he  told  himself,  desperately;  "  a  little  dia- 
mond cement  would  make  it  all  right  again;  and  you  expect  cracks 
in  a  statue." 

Then,  after  a  furtive  glance  around,  he  fetched  the  poker  from 
the  tire-place.  He  felt  horribly  brutal,  as  if  he  were  going  to  muti- 
late and  maltreat  a  creature  that  could  feel ;  but  he  nerved  himself 
to  tap  the  back  of  Aphrodite's  hand  at  the  dimpled  base  of  the  third 
finger.  The  shock  ran  up  to  his  elbow,  and  gave  him  acute  "pins 
and  needles,"  but  the  stone  hand  was  still  intact.  He  struck  again 
— this  time  with  all  his  force — and  the  poker  flew  from  his  grasp, 
and  his  arm  dropped  paralyzed  by  his  side. 

He  could  scarcely  lift  it  again  for  some  minutes,  and  the  warning 
made  him  refrain  from  any  further  violence.  "It's  no  good,"  he 
groaned;  "if  I  go  on,  I  don't  know  what  mayn't  happen  to  me.  I 
must  wait  till  she  comes  to,  and  then  ask  her  for  the  ring,  very 
polite  and  civil,  and  try  if  I  can't  get  round  her  that  way." 

He  was  determined  that  he  would  never  give  her  up  to  the  gar- 
dens while  she  wore  his  ring;  but,  in  the  meantime,  he  could 
scarcely  leave  the  statue  standing  in  the  middle  of  his  sitting-room, 
where  it  would  most  assuredly  attract  the  char-woman's  attention. 

He  had  little  cupboards  on  each  side  of  his  fire-place :  one  of  these 
had  no  shelves,  and  served  for  storing  firewood  and  bottles  of 
various  kinds;  after  removing  the  contents  from  this,  he  lifted  the 
statue,  pushed  it  well  in,  and  turned  the  key  on  it. 

Then  he  went  trembling  to  bed,  and  after  an  interval  of  muddled 
anxious  thinking  fell  into  a  heavy  sleep,  which  lasted  until  far  into 
the  morning. 

He  woke  with  the  recollection  that  something  unpleasant  was 
hanging  over  him,  and  by  degrees  he  remembered  what  that  some- 
thing was;  but  it  looked  so  extravagant  in  the  morning  light  that 
he  had  great  hopes  all  would  turn  olit  to  be  a  mere  dream. 

It  was  a  mild  Sunday  morning,  and  there  were  church  bells  ring- 
ing all  around  him;  it  seemed  impossible  that  he  could  really  be 
harboring  an  animated  antique.  But  to  remove  all  doubt,  he  stole 
down,  half  dressed,  to  his  small  sitting-room,  which  he  found  look- 
ing as  usual— the  fire  burning  dull  and  dusty  in  the  sunlight,  that 
struck  in  through  the  open  window,  and  his  breakfast  laid  out  on 
the  table. 

Almost  reassured,  he  went  to  the  cupboard  and  unlocked  the 
door,  Alas!  it  held  its  skeleton— the  statue  was  there,  preserving 
the  attitude  of  queenly  command  iu  which  he  had  seen  it  first. 
Sharply  he  shut  the  door  again,  and  turned  the  key  with  a  heavy 
heart. 

He  swallowed  his  breakfast  with  very  little  appetite,  after  which 
he  felt  he  could  not  remain  in  the  house.  "To  sit  here  with  thai 
in  the  cupboard  is  more  than  I'm  equal  to  all  Sunday,"  he  decided. 


26  THE    TINTED    VEKUS. 

If  Matilda  had  been  at  his  aunt's  with  whom  she  lodged,  he 
would  have  gone  to  chapel  with  her;  but  Matilda  did  not  return 
from  her  holiday  till  late  that  niglit.  He  thought  of  going  to  his 
friend  and  asking  his  advice  on  his  case.  James,  as  a  barrister's 
clerk,  would  presumably  be  able  to  give  a  sound  legal  opinion  on 
an  emergency. 

James,  however,  lived  "out  Camden  Town  way,"  and  was  cer- 
tain on  so  fine  a  morning  to  be  away  on  some  Sunday  expedition 
with  his  betrothed:  it  was  hopeless  to  go  in  search  of  him  now.  If 
he  went  to  see  his  aunt,  who  lived  close  by  in  Millman  Street,  she 
might  ask  him  about  the  ring,  and  there  would  be  a  fuss.  He  was 
in  no  humor  for  attending  any  place  of  public  worship,  and  so  he 
spent  some  hours  in  aimless  wandering  about  the  streets,  which,  as 
foreigners  are  fond  of  reminding  us,  are  not  exhilarating  even  on 
the  brightest  Sabbath,  and  did  not  raise  his  spirits  then. 

At  last  hunger  drove  him  back  to  the  passage  in  Southampton 
Row,  the  more  quickly  as  it  began  to  occur  to  him  that  the  statue 
might  possibly  have  revived,  and  be  creating  a  disturbance  in  the 
cupboard. 

He  had  passed  the  narrow  posts,  and  was  just  taking  out  his 
latch-key,  when  some  one  behind  touched  his  shoulder  and  made  him 
give  a  guilty  jump.  He  dreaded  to  find  the  goddess  at  his  elbow; 
however,  to  his  relief,  he  found  a  male  stranger,  plainly  and  respect- 
ably dressed. 

"  You  Mr.  Tweddle  the  hair-dresser?"  the  stranger  inquired. 

Leander  felt  a  wild  impulse  to  deny  it,  and  declare  that  he  was 
his  own  friend  and  had  couk;  to  see  himself  on  business,  for  he  was 
in  no  social  mood  just  then;  but  he  ended  by  admitting  that  he  sup- 
posed he  was  Mr.  Tweddle. 

"So  did  I.  Well,  I  want  a  little  private  talk  with  you,  Mr. 
Tweddle.  I've  been  hanging  about  for  some  time;  but  though  I 
knocked  and  rang,  I  couldn't  make  a  soul  hear." 

"There  isn't  a  soul  inside,"  protested  Tweddle,  with  unnecessary 
warmth ;  "  not  a  solitary  soiil !  You  wanted  to  talk  with  me.  Sup- 
pose we  take  a  turn  round  the  Square?" 

"  No,  no;  I  won't  keep  you  out — I'll  come  in  with  you!" 

Inwardly  wondering  what  his  visitor  wanted,  Leander  led  him  in 
and  lit  the  gas  in  his  hair-cutting  saloon.  "We  shall  be  cozier 
here,"  he  said;  for  he  dared  not  take  the  stranger  up  in  the  room 
where  the  statue  was  concealed,  for  fear  of  accidents. 

The  man  sat  down  in  the  operating  chair  and  crossed  his  legs. 
"  I  dare  say  you're  wondering  what  I've  come  about  like  this  on  a 
Sunday  afternoon?  "  he  began. 

"Not  at  all,"  said  Leander;  "anything  I  can  have  the  pleasure 
of  doing  for  you — " 

^  "  It's  only  to  answer  a  few  questions.  I  understand  you  lost  a 
ring  at  the  Rosherwich  Gardens  yesterday  evening;  that's  so,  isn't 
it?" 

He  was  a  military-looking  person,  as  Leander  now  perceived, 
and  he  had  a  close  trimmed  iron-grey  beard,  a  high  color,  quick 
eyes,  and  a  stiff  hard-lipped  mouth— not  at  all  the  kind  of  man  to 
trifle  with.    And  yet  Leander  felt  no  inclination  to  tell  him  his 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  27 

fitory;  the  stranger  minght  be  a  reporter,  and  his  adventure  would 
"get  into  the  papers" — perhaps  reach  Matilda's  eyes. 

"I — I  dropped  a  ring  last  night,  certingly,"  he  said;  "it  may 
have  been  in  the  gardens,  for  -what  I  know." 

"Now,  now,"  said  the  stranger,  "don't  you  know  it  was  in  the 
gardens?     Tell  me  all  about  it." 

"  Begging  your  pardon,"  said  Leander,  "  I  should  like  to  know 
first  what  call  you  have  to  he  told." 

"  You  are  quite  right — perfectly  right.  I  always  deal  straiglit- 
forwardly  when  I  can.  I'll  tell  you  who  I  am,  I'm  Inspector  Bil- 
bow,  of  the  Criminal  Investigation  Department,  Scothind  Yard. 
Kow,  perhaps,  you'll  see  I'm  not  a  man  to  be  kept  in  the  dark. 
And  I  want  you  to  tell  me  when  and  where  you  last  saw  that  ring 
of  yours;  it's  to  your  own  interest,  if  you  want  to  see  it  again." 

But  Leander  Md  seen  it  again,  and  it  seemed  certain  that  all 
Scotland  Yard  could  not  assist  him  in  getting  it  back;  he  must 
manage  it  single-handed. 

"It's  very  kind  of  you.  Mr.  Inspector,  to  try  and  find  it  for  me," 
he  said ;  "  but  the  fact  is,  it — it  ain't  so  valuable  as  I  fancied.  I 
can't  afford  to  have  it  traced — it's  not  worth  it." 

The  inspector  laughed.  "  I  never  said  it  was,  that  I  know.  The 
job  I'm  in  charge  of  is  a  bigger  concern  than  your  trumpery  ring, 
my  friend." 

"Then  I  don't  see  what  I've  got  to  do  with  it,"  said  Leander. 

The  officer  had  taken  his  measure  by  this  time;  he  must  admit 
his  man  into  a  show  of  confidence,  and  appeal  to  his  vanity,  if  he 
was  to  obtain  any  information  he  could  rely  upon. 

"You're  a  shrewd  chap,  I  see;  'nothing  for  nothing' 's  your 
motto,  eh  ?  Well,  if  you  help  me  in  this,  and  put  me  on  the  track  I 
want,  it'll  be  a  fine  thing  for  you.  You'll  be  a  principal  witness  at 
the  police-court  ;  name  in  the  papers  ;  regular  advertisement  for 
you ! " 

This  prospect,  had  he  known  it,  but  even  inspectors  can  not  know 
everything,  was  the  last  which  could  appeal  to  Leander  in  his  pe- 
culiar position.  "I  don't  care  for  notoriety," he  said  loftily;  I 
scorn  it." 

"Oho!"  said  the  inspector,  shifting  his  ground.  "Well,  you 
don't  want  to  impede  the  course  of  justice,  do  you?  because  tliat's 
what  you  seem  to  me  to  be  after,  and  you  won't  find  it  pay  in  the 
long  run.  I'll  get  this  out  of  you  in  a  friendly  way  if  I  can  ;  if  not, 
some  other  way.  Come,  give  me  your  account,  fair  and  full,  of  how 
you  came  to  lose  that  ring;  there's  no  help  for  it — you  must!" 

Leander  saw  this  and  yielded.  After  all,  it  did  not  much  matter, 
for  of  course  he  would  not  touch  upon  the  strange  sequel  of  his  ill- 
omened  act;  so  he  told  the  story  faithfully  and  circumstantially, 
while  the  inspector  took  it  all  down  in  his  notebook,  questioning 
him  closely  respecting  the  exact  lime  of  each  occurrence. 

At  last  he  closed  his  note-book  with  a  snap.  "  I'm  not  obliged  to 
tell  you  anything  in  return  for  all  this,"  he  said;  "but  I  will,  and 
then  you'll  see  the  importance  of  holding  your  tongue  till  I  give  you 
leave  to  talk  about  it." 

"  i  sha'n't  talk  about  it,"  said  Leander. 

"  I  don't  advise  you  to.     I  suppose  you've  heard  of  that  affair  at 


28  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

Wricklesmarsh  Court?  What!  not  that  business  where  a  gang 
broke  into  the  sculpture  gallery,  one  of  the  finest  private  collections 
in  England  ?  You  surprise  me ! " 

"  And  what  did  they  steal?"  asked  Leander. 

"  They  stole  the  figure  wliose  finger  you  were  ass  enough  (if  you'll 
allow  me  the  little  familiarity)  to  put  your  ring  on.  What  do  you 
think  of  that?" 

A  wild  rush  of  ideas  coursed  through  the  hair- dresser's  head. 
Was  this  policeman  'after' tjie  goddess  upstairs?  Did  he  know 
anything  more?  Would  it  be  better  to  give  up  the  statue  at  once 
and  get  rid  of  it  ?  But  then — his  ring  would  be  lost  forever. 

"  It's  surprising,"  he  said  at  last;  "  but  what  did  they  want  to  go 
and  burgle  a  plaster  figure  for?  " 

"  That's  where  it  is,  .you  see;  she  ain't  plaster — she's  marble, 
a  genuine  antic  of  Venus,  and  worth  thousands.  The  beggars 
ivho  broke  in  knew  that,  and  took  nothing  else.  They'd  made 
all  arrangements  to  get  away  with  her  abroad,  and  pass  her  oil  on 
some  foreign  collection  before  it  got  blown  upon;  and  they'd  have 
3one  it  too  if  we  hadn't  been  beforehand  with  them  I  So  what  do 
they  do  then?  They  drive  up  with  her  to  these  gardens,  ask  to  see 
the  manager,  and  say  they're  agents  for  some  Fine  Arts  business, 
ind  have  a  sample  with  them,  to  be  disposed  of  at  a  low  price.  The 
manager,  so  he  tells  me,  had  a  look  at  it,  thought  it  a  neat  article 
and  suitable  to  the  style  of  his  gardens.  He  took  it  to  be  plain  plas- 
ter, as  they  said,  and  they  put  it  up  for  him  their  own  selves,  near 
the  small  gate  up  by  the  road;  then  they  took  the  money,  a  pound 
3r  two  they  asked  for  it,  and  drove  away,  and  he  saw  no  more  of 
;hem." 

"  And  was  that  all  they  got  for  their  pains?  "  said  Leander. 

The  inspector  smiled  indulgently.  "Don't  you  see  your  way 
p^et?"  he  asked.  "  Can't  you  give  a  guess  where  that  statue's  got 
;o  now,  eh?  " 

"  No,"  said  Leander,  with  what  seemed  to  the  inspector  a  quite 
uncalled-for  excitement,  "  of  course  I  can't!  Wliat  do  you  ask  me 
[or?     How  should  1  know?  " 

"Quite so,"  said  the  other,  "  jow  want  a  mind  trained  to  deal 
svith  these  things.  It  may  surprise  you  to  hear  it,  but  I  know  as 
ivell  how  that  statue  disappeared,  and  what  was  done  with  her,  as 
i  I'd  been  there!" 

"Do  you  though?"  thought  Leander,  who  was  beginning  to 
ioubt  whether  his  visitor's  penetration  was  anything  so  abnormal, 

"What  was  done  with  her?"  he  asked. 

"  Why,  it  was  a  plant  from  the  first.  They  knew  all  their  regu- 
lar holes  were  stopped,  and  they  wanted  a  place  to  dump  her  down 
m,  where  she  wouldn't  attract  attention,  till  they  could  call  for  her 
igain;  so  they  got  her  taken  in  at  the  gardens,  where  they  could 
3ome  in  any  time  by  the  gate  and  fetch  her  off  again,  and  veiy 
aeatly  it  was  done  too!" 

"But  where  do  you  make  out  they've  taken  her  to  now?"  asked 
Leander,  who  was  naturally  anxious  to  discover  if  the  official  had 
any  suspicion?  of  him. 

"I've  my  own  tlieory  about  that,"  was  his  answer.  "  I  shall  hunt 
that  Venus  down,  sir;  I'll  stake  my  reputation  on  it." 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  39 

"Venus  is  her  name,  it  seems,"  thought  Leander.  "She  told 
me  it  was  Aphrodite.  But  perhap's  the  other's  her  Christian  name. 
It  can't  be  the  Venus  I've  seen  the  pictures  of — she's  dressed  too 
decent." 

"  Yes,"  repeated  the  inspector,  "  I  shall  hunt  her  down  now.  I 
don't  envy  the  poor  devil  who's  giving  her  house-room;  he'll  have 
reason  to  repent  it!" 

"  How  do  you  know  any  one's  giving  her  house-room?"  inquired 
Leander,  "  and  why  should  he  repent  it?" 

"  Ask  your  own  common  sense.  They  daren't  take  her  back  to 
any  of  their  own  places;  they  know  better.  They  haven't  left  the 
country  with  her.  What  remains?  They've  bribed  or  got  over 
some  mug  of  an  outsider  to  be  their  accomplice,  and  a  bad  specula- 
tion he'll  find  it  too." 

"  What  would  be  done  with  him?"  asked  the  hair-dresser,  with  a 
quite  unpleasant  internal  sensation, 

"That  is  a  question  I  wouldn't  pretent  to  decide;  but  I've  no 
hesitation  in  saying  that  the  party  on  whose  premises  that  statue  is 
discovered  will  wish  he'd  died  before  he  ever  set  eyes  on  her." 

"  You're  quite  right  there! "  said  Leander.  "  Well,  sir,  I'm  afraid 
I  haven't  been  much  assistance  to  you." 

"  Never  mind  that,"  said  the  inspector  encouragingly.  "  You've 
answered  my  questions;  you've  not  hindered  the  law,  and  that's  a 
game  some  burn  their  fingers  at." 

Leander  let  him  out,  and  returned  to  his  saloon  with  his  head  in 
a  worse  whirl  than  before.  He  did  not  think  the  detective  suspected 
him.  He  was  clearly  barking  up  the  wrong  tree  at  present;  but  so 
acute  a  mind  could  not  he  long  deceived,  and  if  once  Leander  was 
implicated  his  guilt  would  appear  beyond  denial.  Would  the  police 
believe  that  the  statue  had  run  after  him?  No  one  would  believe 
it !  To  be  found  in  possession  of  that  fatal  work  of  art  would  inevi- 
tably ruin  him. 

He  might  carry  her  away  to  some  lonely  spot  and  leave  her.  but 
where  was  the  use?  She  would  only  come  back  again;  or  he  might 
be  taken  in  the  act.  He  dared  not'destroy  her;  his  right  arm  had 
been  painful  all  day  after  that  last  attempt. 

If  he  gave  her  up  to  the  authorities,  he  would  have  to  explain 
how  he  came  to  be  in  a  position  to  do  so,  which,  as  he  now  saw, 
would  be  a  difficult  undertaking;  and  even  then  lie  would  lose  all 
chance  of  recovering  his  ring  in  time  to  satisfy  his  aunt  and  Matilda. 
There  was  no  way  out  of  it,  unless  he  could  induce  Venus  to  give 
tip  the  token  and  leave  him  alone. 

"  Cuss  her!"  he  said  angrily;  "a  pretty  bog  she's  led  me  into, 
»he  and  that  minx,  Ada  Parkinson!" 

He  felt  so  thoroughly  miserable  that  hunger  had  vanished,  and 
he  dreaded  the  idea  of  an  evening  at  home,  though  it  was  a  blus- 
terous night;  with  occasional  vicious  spirts  of  rain,  and  by  no  means 
favorable  to  continued  pacing  of  si  reels  and  squares. 

"I'm  hanged  if  I  don't  think  Til  go  to  church!"  he  thought, 
"  and  perhaps  I  shall  feel  more  equal  to  supper  afterward." 

He  went  upstairs  to  get  his  best  hal  and  overcoat,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  brushing  the  former  in  his  sitting-room,  when  from  within 
Ihe  cupboard  he  heard  a  shower  of  loud  raps. 


30  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

His  knees  trembled.  "  She's  wuss  than  any  ghost!"  he  thought; 
but  he  took  no  notice  and  went  on  brushing  his  hat,  while  he  en- 
deavored to  hum  a  hymn. 

"Leander!"  cried*  the  clear,  hard  voice  he  knew  too  well,  "I 
have  returned.     Release  me!" 

His  first  idea  was  to  run  out  of  the  house  and  seek  sanctuary  in 
some  pew  in  the  opposite  church,  "  But  there,"  he  thought  dis- 
gustedly, "  she'd  only  come  in  and  sit  next  to  me.  No,  I'll  pluck 
up  a  spirit  and  have  it  out  with  her!"  and  he  threw  open  the  door. 

"  How  have  you  dared  to  imprison  me  in  this  narrow  tomb?" 
she  demanded  majestically,  as  she  stepped  forth. 

Leander  cringed.  "  It's  a  nice  roomy  cupboard,"  he  said.  "  I 
thought  perhaps  you  wouldn't  mind  putting  up  with  it,  especially 
as  you  invited  yourself,"  he  could  not  help  adding. 

"When  I  found  myself  awake  and  in  utter  darkness,"  she  said, 
"  I  thought  you  liad  buried  me  beneath  the  soil." 

"  Buried  you  !"  he  exclaimed,  with  a  sudden  perception  that  he 
might  do  worse. 

"And  in  that  thought  I  was  preparing  to  invoke  the  forces  that 
lie  below  tlie  soil  to  come  to  my  aid,  burst  the  masses  that  impeded 
me,  and  overwhelm  you  and  all  this  ugly  swarming  city  in  one  vast 
ruin ! " 

'*  I  won't  bury  her,"  Leander  decided.  "  I'm  sorry  you  hadn't  a 
better  opinion  of  me,  mum,"  he  said  aloud.  "  You  see,  how  you 
came  to  be  in  there  was  this  wav :  when  you  went  out,  like  the  snuff 
of  a  candle,  so  to  speak,  you  left  your  statue  standing  in  the  middle 
of  the  floor,  and  I  had  to  put  it  somewhere  where  it  wouldn't  be 
seen." 

"You  did  well,"  she  said  indulgently,  "to  screen  my  image  from 
the  vulgar  sight;  and  if  3'ou  had  no  statelier  slirine  wherein  to  in- 
stall it,  the  fault  lies  not  with  you.     You  are  pardoned." 

"Thank  you,  mum,"  said  Leander;  "and  now  let  me  ask 
you  if  you  intend  to  animate  that  statue  like  this  as  a  regular 
thing?" 

"  So  long  as  j^our  obstinacy  continues,  or  until  it  outlives  my  for- 
bearance, I  shall  return  at  intervals,"  she  said.  "  Why  do  you  ask 
this?" 

"  Well,"  said  Leander,  with  a  sinking  heart,  but  hoping  desper- 
ately to  move  her  by  the  terrors  of  the  law,  "  it's  my  duty  to  tell  you 
that  that  image  you're  in  is  stolen  property." 

"  Has  it  been  stolen  from  one  of  my  temples?"  she  asked. 

"  1  daresay — I  don't  know;  but  there's  the  police  moving  Heaven 
and  earth  to  get  you  back  again!" 

"  He  is  good  and  pious — the  police — and  if  I  knew  him  I  would 
reward  him." 

"  There's  a  good  many  hims  in  the  police— that's  what  we  call 
our  guards  for  the  street,  who  take  up  thieves  and  bad  characters; 
and,  being  stolen,  they're  all  of  'em  after  you;  and  if  they  had  a 
notion  where  you  were,  thej^'d  be  down  on  you,  and  back  you'd  go 
to  wherever  you'f'-e  come  from — some  gallery,  I  believe,  where  you 
wouldn't  get  awa,/  again  in  a  hurry!  Now  I  teli  you  what  it  is,  if 
you  don't  give  me  up  that  ring,  and  go  away  and  leave  me  in  quiet, 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  31 

I'll  tell  the  police  who  you  are  and  where  you  are.  I  mean  what  I 
say,  by  George  I  do!" 

"  We  know  not  George,  nor  will  it  profit  you  to  invoke  him 
now,"  said  tlie  goddess.  "  See,  1  will  deign  to  reason  with  you  as 
with  some  froward  child.  Think  3''ou  that,  should  the  guards  seize 
my  image,  /should  remain  within,  or  that  it  is  aught  to  me  where 
this  marble  presentment  finds  a  resting-place  while  1  am  absent 
therefrom?  But  for  you,  should  you  surrender  it  into  their  hands, 
would  tiiere  be  no  punishment  for  your  impiety  in  thus  concealing  a 
divine  eflSgy?" 

"  She  ain't  no  fool  "  thought  Leander;  "  she  mayn't  understand 
our  ways,  but  she's  a  match  for  me  notwithstanding.  I  must  try 
another  line." 

"Lady  Venus,"  he  began,  "if  that's  the  proper  way  to  call  you, 
I  didn't  mean  any  threats — far  from  it.  I'll  be  as  humble  as  you 
please.  You  look  a  good-natured  lady:  you  wouldn't  want  to  make 
a  man  uncomfortable,  I'm  sure.  Do  give  me  back  that  ring,  for 
mercy's  sakel  If  I  haven't  got  it  to  show  in  a  day  or  two,  I  shall 
be  ruined!" 

"  Sliould  any  mortal  require  the  ring  of  you,  you  have  but  to  re- 
ply, '  I  have  placed  it  upon  the  finger  of  Aphrodite,  whose  spouse  I 
ami'  Thus  will  you  have  honor  among  mortals,  being  held  blame- 
less!" 

"  Blameless!"  cried  Leander,  in  pardonable  exasperation,  "that's 
all  you  know  about  it !  And  what  am  I  to  say  to  the  lady  it  law- 
fully belongs  to?" 

"'You  have  lied  to  me,  then,  and  you  are  already  affianced !  Tell 
me  the  abode  of  this  maiden  of  yours." 

"  What  do  you  want  it  for?"  he  inquired,  hoping  faintly  she  might 
intend  to  restore  the  ring. 

"  To  seek  it  out,  to  go  to  her  abode,  to  crush  her!  Is  she  not  my 
rival?" 

"  Crush  my  Matilda?"  he  cried  in  agony;  "  you'll  never  do  such 
a  thing  as  that?" 

"  You  have  revealed  her  name !  I  have  but  to  ask  in  your  streets, 
'  Where  abideth  Matilda,  the  beloved  of  Leander,  the  dresser  of 
hair?  Lead  me  to  her  dwelling.'  And  having  arrived  thereat,  I 
shall  crush  her,  and  thus  she  shall  deservedly  perish!" 

He  was  horrified  at  the  possible  effects  of  his  slip,  which  he 
hastened  to  repair.  "You  won't  find  it  so  easy  to  come  at  her, 
luckily,"  he  said ;   "there's  hundreds  of  Matildas  in  London  alone." 

"  Then,"  said  the  goddess,  sweetly  and  calmly,  "it  is  simple;  I 
shall  crush  them  all." 

"  Oh,  Lor!"  whimpered  Leander,  "here's  a  bloodthirsty  person! 
Where's  the  sense  of  doing  that?" 

"  Because,  dissipated  reveler  that  you  are,  you  love  them." 

"  Now  when  did  I  ever  say  I  loved  them?  I  don't  even  know 
more  than  two  or  three,  and  those  I  look  on  as  sisters— in  fact" 
(here  he  hit  upon  a  lucky  evasion)  "they  are  sisters — it's  only  an- 
other name  for  them.  I've  a  brother  and  three  Matildas,  and  here 
are  you  talking  of  crushing  my  poor  sisters  as  if  they  were  so  many 
beadles — all  for  nothing." 


8^  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

"Is  this  the  truth?  Palter  not  with  me  1  You  are  pledged  to  no 
mortal  bride?" 

"I'm  a  bachelor.  And  as  for  the  ring,  it  belongs  to  my  aunt, 
who's  over  fifty." 

"  Then  no  one  stands  between  us,  and  you  are  mine!" 

"  Don't  talk  so  ridiculous.  I  tell  you  I  ain't  yours— it's  a  free 
country,  this  is!" 

"  If  I— an  immortal— can  stoop  thus,  it  becomes  you  not  to  reject 
the  dazzling  favor." 

A  last  argument  occurred  to  him.  "  But  I  reelly  don't  think, 
mum,"  he  said  persuasivel3%  "  that  you  can  be  quite  aware  of  the 
extent  of  the  stoop.  The  fact  is,  I  am,  as  I've  tried  to  make  you 
understand,  a  hair-dresscr:  some  miglit  lower  themselves  so  far  as 
to  call  me  a  barber.  Now  hair-dressing,  whatever  may  be  said  for 
it "  (he  could  not  readily  bring  himself  to  decry  his  profession), 
"hair  dressing  is considribly  below  you  in  social  rank.  I  wouldn't 
deceive  you  by  saying  otherwise.  I  assure  you  tliat,  if  you  had  any 
ideer  what  a  barber  was,  you  wouldn't  be  so  pressing." 

She  seemed  to  be  struck  by  this.  "  You  say  well!"  she  observed, 
thoughtfully;  "  your  occupal ion  may  be  base  and  degrading,  and 
if  so,  it  were  well  for  me  to  know  it. " 

"  If  you  were  once  to  see  me  in  my  daily  avocations,"  he  urged, 
"you'd  see  what  a  mistake  you're  making." 

"Enough!  I  will  see  you — and  at  once.  Barb,  that  I  may 
know  the  nature  of  your  toil!" 

"  I  can't  do  that  now,"  he  objected;  "  I  haven't  got  a  customer." 

"  Then  fetch  one,  and  barb  with  it  immediately.  You  must  have 
your  tools  by  you ;  so  delay  not !" 

"A  customer  ain't  a  tool!"  he  groaned,  "  it's  a  fellow-man;  and 
no  one  will  come  in  to-night,  because  it's  Sunday.  (Don't  ask  me 
what  Sunday  is,  because  you  wouldn't  understand  if  I  tried  to  tell 
you!)  And  I  don't  carry  on  my  business  up  here,  but  below  in  the 
saloon." 

"  I  will  go  thither  and  behold  you." 

"No!"  he  exclaimed.     "  Do  you  want  to  ruin  me?" 

"I  will  make  no  sign;  none  shall  recognize  me  for  what  I  am. 
But  come  I  will!" 

Leander  pondered  awhile.  There  was  danger  in  introducing 
the  goddess  into  his  saloon;  he  had  no  idea  what  she  might  do 
there.  But  at  the  same  time,  if  she  were  bent  upon  coming,  she 
would  probably  do  so  in  any  case;  and  besides,  he  felt  tolerably 
certain  that  what  she  would  see  would  convince  her  of  his  utter  un- 
suitability  as  a  consort. 

Yes,  it  was  surely  wisest  to  assist  necessity,  and  obtain  the  most 
favorable  conditions  for  the  inevitable  experiment. 

"  I  might  put  you  in  a  corner  of  the  operating  room,  to  be  sure," 
he  said,  thoughtfully;  "  no  one  would  think  but  what  you  was  part 
of  the  fittings,  unless  you  went  moving  about." 

"Place  me  where  I  may  behold  you  at  your  labor,  and  there  I 
will  remain,"  she  said. 

"  Well,"  he  conceded,  "  I'll  risk  it.  The  best  way  would  be  for 
you  to  walk  down  to  the  saloon,  and  leave  yourself  ready  in  a  cor- 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  33 

ner  till  you  come  to  again.  I  can't  carry  a  heavy  marble  imas^e  all 
that  way!" 

"  So  be  it,"  said  she,  and  followed  him  to  the  saloon  with  a  proud 
docility. 

"  It's  nicely  got  up,"  he  remarked,  as  theyreached  it,  "  and  you'll 
find  it  roomier  than  the  cupboard." 

She  deigned  no  answer  as  she  remained  motionless  in  the  corner 
he  had  indicated;  and  presently,  as  he  held  up  the  candle  he  was 
carrying  he  found  its  rays  were  shining  upon  a  senseless  stone. 

He  went  upstairs  again,  halt"  fearful,  half  sanguine.  "I  don't 
altogether  like  it,"  he  was  thinking.  "  But  if  I  put  a  print  wrapper 
over  her  all  day,  no  one  will  notice.  And  goddesses  must  have  their 
proper  pride.  If  she  once  gets  it  into  her  marble  head  that  I  keep  a 
shop,  I  think  that  she'll  turn  up  her  nose  at  me.  And  then  she'll 
give  back  the  ring  and  go  away,  and  I  sha'n't  be  afraid  of  the  police; 
and  I  needn't  tell  Tillie  about  it.     It's  worth  risking." 


CHAPTER  V. 

AN    EXPERIMENT. 

'Tis  time:  descend;  be  stone  no  more;  approach; 
Strike  all  that  look  upon  '^^^th  marvel. 

Tlie  Winter's  Tale. 

The  next  day  brought  Leander  a  letter  which  made  his  heart 
beat  with  mingled  emotions — it  was  from  his  Matilda.  It  had  evi- 
dently been  written  immediately  before  her  return,  and  told  him 
that  she  would  be  at  their  old  meeting-place  (the  statue  of  Fox,  in 
Bloomsbury  Square)  at  eight  o'clock  that  evening. 

The  wave  of  tenderness  which  swept  over  him  at  the  anticipa- 
tion of  this  was  hurled  back  by  an  uncomfortable  thought.  What 
if  Matilda  were  to  refer  to  the  ring?  But  no;  his  MaBlda  would 
do  nothing  so  indelicate. 

All  through  the  day  he  mechanically  went  through  his  hair- 
dressing,  singeing,  and  shampooing  operations,  divided  between  joy 
at  the  prospect  of  seeing  his  adored  Matilda  again,  and  anxiety  re- 
specting the  cold  marble  swathed  in  the  print  wrapper,  which  stood 
in  a  corner  of  his  hair-cutting  saloon. 

He  glanced  at  it  every  time  he  went  past  to  change  a  brush  or 
heat  a  razor;  but  there  was  no  sign  or  movement  under  the  folds, 
and  he  gradually  became  reassured,  especially  as  it  excited  no  re- 
mark. 

But  as  evening  drew  on  he  felt  that,  for  the  success  of  his  experi- 
Bnent,  it  was  necessary  that  the  cover  should  be  removed.  It  was 
dangerous,  supposing  the  inspector  were  to  come  in  unexpectedly 
and  recognize  the  statue;  but  he  could  only  trust  to  fortune  for 
that,  and  hoped  too  that  even  if  the  detective  came  he  would  be 
able  to  keep  him  in  the  outer  shop. 

It  was  only  for  one  evening,  and  it  was  well  worth  the  risk. 

A  foreign  gentleman  had  come  in,  and  the  hair-dresser  found  that 
a  fresh  wrapper  was  required,  which  gave  him  tlic  excuse  he  wanted 
for  unveiling  the  Aphrodite.  He  looked  carefully  at  the  face  as  ho 
2 


34  THE    TINTED    VEKtS. 

uncovered  it,  but  could  discover  no  speculation  as  yet  in  tlie  calm, 
full  gaze  of  the  goddess. 

The  foreign  gentleman  was  inclined  to  be  talkative  under  treat- 
ment, and  the  conversation  came  round  to  public  amusements.  "  In 
mv  country,"  the  customer  said,  without  mentioning  or  betraying 
what  his  particular  country  was,  "in  my  country  we  have  what 
you  have  not,  places  to  sit  out  in  the  fresh  air,  and  drink  a  glass  of 
beer,  along  with  the  entertainments.  You  have  not  that  in  Lon- 
don?" 

"Bless  your  soul,  yes,"  said  Leander,  who  was  a  true  patriot, 
"  plenty  of  them!" 

"  Oh,  I  did  not  aware  that— but  who?" 

**  Well,"  said  the  hair-dresser,"  there's  the  Eagle  in  the  City  Road, 
for  one;  and  there's  the  Surrey  Gardens — and  there's  Kosherwich," 
he  added,  after  a  pause.  (The  Fisheries  Exhibition,  it  may  be  said, 
was  as  yet  unknown.) 

"And  you  go  there,  often?" 

"  I've  been  to  Rosherwich," 

"  Was  it  goot  there — you  laike  it,  eh?" 

"  Well,"  said  Leander,  "  they  tell  me  it's  very  gay  in  the  season. 
P'rhaps  I  went  at  the  wrong  time  of  year  for  it." 

"  What  you  call  wrong  time  for  it?" 

"Slack,  nothing  going  on,"  he  explained,  "like  it  was  when  I 
went  last  Saturda}'." 

"  You  went  hist  Saturday,     And  you  stay  a  long  time?" 

"  I  didn't  stay  no  longer  than  1  could  help,"  Leander  said;  "  all 
our  party  was  glad  to  get  away." 

The  foreigner  had  risen  to  go,  when  his  eyes  fell  on  the  Venus  in 
the  corner. 

"  You  did  not  stay  long,  and  3'our  party  was  glad  to  come  away?" 
he  repeated,  absently.  "I  am  not  surprise  at  that."  He  gave  the 
hair-dresser  a  long  stare  as  he  spoke.  "  No,  I  am  not  surprise.  You 
have  a  good  taste,  my  friend;  you  laike  the  antique,  do  you  not?" 
he  broke  off  suddenly. 

"Ail!  you're  looking  at  the  Yenus,  sir,"  said  Leander.  "Yes, 
I'm  very  partial  to  it." 

"  It  is  a  taste  that  costs,"  his  customer  said. 

He  looked  back  over  his  shoulder  as  he  left  the  shop,  and  once 
more  repeated  softly,  "  Yes,  it  is  a  taste  that  costs." 

"  I  suppose,"  Leander  reflected  as  he  went  back,  "  it  does  strike 
people  as  queer,  my  keeping  that  statue  there;  but  it's  only  for  one 
evening." 

The  "foreigner  had  scarcely  left,  when  an  old  gentleman,  a  regular 
customer,  looked  in,  on  his  way  from  the  city,  and  at  once  noticed 
the  innovation.  He  was  an  old  gentleman  who  had  devoted  much 
time  and  study  to  Art,  in  the  intervals  of  business,  and  had  devel- 
oped critical  powers  of  the  highest  order. 

He  walked  straight  up  to  the  Venus  and  stuck  out  his  under  lip. 
"Where  did  you  get  that  thing?"  he  inquired;  "  isn't  this  place  of 
yours  small  enough  without  lumbering  it  up  with  statuary  out  of 
the  Euston  Road?" 

"  1  didn't  get  it  there,"  said  Leander.  "  I— I  thought  it  would 
be  'andy  to  'ang  the  'ats  oa ' 


THE    TINTED    YENUS.  35 

"  Dear,  dear,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  "  -why  do  you  people  dab- 
ble in  matters  you  don't  understand?  Come  here,  Tweddle,  and  let 
me  show  you.  Can't  you  see  what  a  miserable  sham  the  thing  is — 
a  cheap,  tawdry  imitation  of  the  splendid  classic  type?  Why,  by 
merely  exhibiting  such  a  thing,  you're  vitiating  public  taste,  sir, 
corrupting  it." 

Leander  did  not  quite  follow  this  rebuke,  which  he  thought  was 
probably  based  upon  the  goddess's  antecedents. 

"  Was  she  reelly  as  bad  as  that,  sir?"  he  said.  "  I  was)i't  aware 
so,  or  I  shouldn't  give  any  offense  to  customers  by  letting  her  stay 
here." 

As  he  spoke  he  saw  the  indefinable  indications  in  the  statue's  face 
which  denoted  that  it  was  instinct  once  more  with  life  and  intelli- 
gence, and  he  was  horrified  at  the  thought  that  the  latter  part  of  the 
conversation  might  have  been  overheard. 

"  But  I've  always  understood,"  he  said,  hastily,  "  that  the  party 
this  represents  was  puffickly  correct,  however  free  some  of  the 
others  might  have  been;  and  1  suppose  that's  the  costume  of  the 
period  she's  in,  and  very  becoming  it  is,  I'm  sure,  though  gone  out 
since." 

"Bah!"  said  the  old  gentleman,  "it's  poor  art.  I'll  show  you 
where  the  thing  is  bad.  I  happen  to  understand  something  of  these 
things.  Just  observe  how  the  top  of  the  head  is  out  of  drawing; 
look  at  the  lowness  of  the  forehead,  and  the  distance  between  the 
eyes;  all  the  canons  of  proportion  ignored,  absolutely  ignored!" 

What  further  strictures  this  rash  old  gentleman  was  preparing  to 
pass  upon  the  statue  will  never  be  known  now,  for  Tweddle  already 
thought  he  could  discern  a  growing  resentment  in  her  face,  under 
so  much  candor.  He  could  not  stand  by  and  allow  so  excellent  a 
customer  to  be  crushed  on  the  floor  of  his  saloon,  and  he  knew  the 
Venus  quite  capable  of  this;  was  she  not  perpetually  threatening 
such  a  penalty,  on  much  slighter  provocation? 

He  rushed  between  the  unconscious  man  and  his  fate.  "  I  think 
you  said  your  hair  cut?"  he  said,  and  laid  violent  hands  upon  the 
critic,  forced  him  protesting  into  a  chair,  throttled  him  with  a  towel, 
and  effectually  diverted  his  attention  by  a  series  of  personal  remarks 
upon  the  top  of  his  head. 

The  victim,  while  he  was  being  shampooed,  showed  at  first  an 
alarming  tendency  to  revert  to  the  subject  of  the  goddess's  defects, 
but  Leander  was  able  to  keep  him  in  check  by^\'cll-timed  jets  of 
scalding  water  and  ice  cold  sprays,  which  he  directed  against  his 
customer's  exposed  crown,  until  every  idea,  except  impotent  rage, 
was  washed  out  of  it,  while  a  hard  machine  brush  completed  the 
subjugation. 

Finally  the  unfortunate  old  man  staggered  out  of  the  shop,  pre- 
served by  Leander's  unremitting  watchfulness  from  the  wrath  of 
the  goddess.  Yet,  such  is  the  ingratitude  of  human  nature,  that  he 
left  the  place  vowing  to  return  no  more.  "  I  thought  I'd  got  a  cloicn 
behind  me,  sir!"  he  used  to  say  afterward,  in  describing  it. 

Before  Leander  could  recover  from  the  alarm  he  had  been  thrown 
into  another  customer  had  entered;  a  pale  young  man,  with  a  glossy 
hat,  a  white  satin  necktie,  and  a  rather  decayed  gardenia.  He,  too, 
was  one  of  Tweedle's  regular  clients.     What  his  occupation  might 


36  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

be  was  a  mystery,  for  he  aimed  at  being  considered  a  man  of 
pleasure. 

"I  say,  just  sbave  me,  will  you?  "  he  said,  and   threw  himself 
languidly  into   a  chair.     "Fact  is,   Tweddle,  I've  been  so  doosid 
chippy  for  the  last  two  days,  I  daren't  touch  a  razor." 
"  Indeed,  sir!"  said  Leauder,  with  respectful  sympath3^ 
"You  see,"  explained  the  youth,  "  I've  been  playing  the  goat— 
the  giddy  goat.     Know  what  that  means?  " 

"  1  used  to,"  said  Leander;  "I  never  touch  alcoholic  stimulants 
now,  myself." 

"  Wish  I  (iidn't.  I  say,  Tweddle,  have  you  been  to  the  Cosmo- 
politan lately?" 

"  I  don't  go  to  music-'allsnow,"  said  Leander;  "  I've  give  up  all 
that,  now  I'm  keeping  compan}^" 

"  Well,  you  go  and  see  the  new  ballet,"  the  youth  exhorted  him 
earnestly;  not  that  he  cared  whether  the  hair  dresser  went  or  not, 
but  because  he  wanted  to  talk  about  the  ballet  to  somebody. 

"Ah!"  observed  Leander,  "  is  that  a  good  one  they've  got  there 
now,  sir?" 

" Rather  think  so.  Ballet  called  'Olympus.'  There's  a  regular 
ripping  little  thing  who  comes  on  as  one  of  Venus's  doves."  And 
the  youth  went  on  to  intimate  that  the  dove  in  question  had  shown 
signs  of  being  struck  by  his  powers  of  fascination.  "  I  saw  directly 
that  I'd  mashed  her;  she  was  gone,  dead  gone,  sir;  and —  1  say, 
who's  that  in  the  corner  over  there,  eh?  " 

He  was  staring  intently  into  the  pier  glass  in  front  of  him, 
"That,"  said  Leander,  t'ollowing  his  glance.  "Oh!  that's  a 
statue  I've  bought.  She — she  brightens  up  the  place  a  bit,  don't 
she?  " 

"A  statue,  is  it?  Yes,  of  course;  I  knew  it  was  a  statue.  Well, 
about  that  dove.  I  went  round  after  it  was  all  over,  but  couldn't 
see  a  sign  of  her;  so —  That's  a  queer  sort  of  statue  you've  got 
there!"  he  broke  off,  suddenly;  and  Leander  distinctly  saw  the 
goddess  shake  her  arm  in  fierce  menace. 

"He's  said  something  that's  put  her  out,"  he  concluded.  "I 
wish  I  knew  what  it  was." 

"  It's  a  classical  statue,  sir,"  he  said,  with  what  composure  he 
might;   "  they're  all  made  like  that." 

"  Are  they,  by  Jove?  But,  Tweddle,  I  say,  it  moves;  it's  shaking 
its  fist  like  old  Harry!" 

"Oh,  I  think  you're  mistaken,  sir,  really!  I  don't  perceive  it 
myself." 

"Don't  perceive  it?  But,  hang  it,  man,  look— look  in  the  glass! 
There!  don't  you  see  it  does?     Dash  it!  can't  you  say  it  does?" 

"Flaw  in  the  mirror,  sir;  when  you  move  your  'ed  you  do  ketch 
that  effect.  I've  observed  it  myself  frequent,*  Chin  cut,  sir?  My 
fault— my  fault  entirely,"  he  admitted  handsomely. 

The  young  man  was  shaved  by  this  time,  and  had  risen  to  re- 
ceive his  hat  and  cane,  when  he  gave  a  violent  start  as  he  passed 
the  Aphrodite.  "There!"  he  said,  breathlessly;  "  look  at  that, 
Tweddle;  she's  going  to  punch  my  head!  I  suppose  you'll  tell  me 
that's  the  glass?" 
Leander  trembled— this  time  for  kis  own   reputation;  for  the 


THE    TINTED    VEKUS.  37 

report  that  he  kept  a  mysterious  and  pugnacious  statue  on  the 
premises  would  not  increase  his  custom.  He  must  silence  it,  if 
possible.  "  I'm  afraid  it  is,  sir — in  a  way,"  he  remarked  compas- 
siooately. 

The  young  man  turned  paler  still.  "No!"  he  exclaimed;  "  5'ou 
don't  think  it  is,  though?  Don't  you  see  anything  yourself?  I  don't 
either,  Tweddle;  I  was  chaffing,  that's  all.  I  know  I'm  a  wee  bit 
off  color;  but  it's  not  so  bad  as  that.  Keep  off!  Tell  her  to  drop 
it,  Tweddle!" 

For,  as  he  spoke,  the  goddess  had  made  a  stride  toward  him. 
"Miserable  one!"  she  cried;  "you  have  mangled  one  of  my  birds. 
Hence,  or  I  crush  thee!" 

"Tw^eddle!  Tweddle!"  cried  the  youth,  taking  refuge  in  the 
outer  shop,  "don't  let  her  come  after  me!  What's  she  talking 
about,  eh?  You  shouldn't  have  these  things  about;  they're — they're 
noi  right!" 

Leander  shut  the  glass  door  and  placed  himself  before  it,  while 
he  tried  to  assume  a  concerned  interest.  "  You  take  my  advice, 
sir,"  he  said ;   "you  go  home  and  keep  steady." 

"  Is  it  that?"  murmured  the  customer.  "Great  Scott!  I  must 
be  bad!"  and  he  went  out  into  the  street,  shaking. 

"  I  djn't  believe  I  shall  ever  see  him  again,  either,"  thought  Le- 
ander. "  She'll  drive  'em  all  a\vay  if  she  goes  on  like  this."  But 
here  a  sudden  recollection  struck  him,  and  he  slapped  his  thigh  with, 
glee.  "  Why,  of  course,"  he  said,  "  that's  it.  I've  downright  dis- 
gusted her;  it  was  me  she  was  most  put  out  with,  and  after  this 
she'll  leave  Die  alone.  Hooray !  I'll  shut  up  everything  first  and 
get  rid  of  the  boy,  and  then  go  in  and  see  her,  and  get  away  to 
Matilda." 

When  the  shop  was  secured  for  the  night,  he  re  entered  the  sa- 
loon with  a  light  step.  "  Well,  mum,"  he  began,  "you've  seen  me 
at  work,  and  you've  thought  better  of  what  you  were  proposing, 
haven't  you  now?" 

"  Where  is  the  wretched  stripling  who  dared  to  slay  my  dove?" 
she  cried.     "  Bring  him  to  me !" 

"What  are  you  a-talking  about  now?"  cried  the  bewildered  Le- 
ander. "  Who's  been  touching  your  birds?  I  wasn't  aware  you 
kept  birds." 

"  Many  birds  are  sacred  to  me — the  silver  swan,  the  fearless  spar- 
row, and,  chief  of  all,  the  coral-footed  dove.  And  one  of  these 
has  that  monster  slain — his  own  mouth  hath  spoken  it." 

"Oh!  is  that  all?"  said  Leander,  "  Wliy,  he  wasn't  talking 
about  a  real  dove ;  it  w' as  a  ballet  girl  he  meant.  I  can't  explain 
the  difference;  but  W\Qy  are  different.  And  it's  all  talk,  too.  I 
know  him;  he's  harmless  enough.  And  now,  mum,  to  come  to  the 
point,  you've  now  had  the  opportunity  of  forming  some  ideer  of  my 
calling.     You've  thought  better  of  it.  haven't  you?" 

"  Better!  ay,  far  better!"  she  cried,  in  a  voice  that  thrilled  with 
pride.  "Leander,  too  modestly  you  have  rated  yourself,  for  surely 
you  are  great  amongst  the  sons  of  men." 

"Me!"  he  gasped,  utterly  overcome.  "How  do  you  make  that 
out?" 

"  Do  you  not  compel  them  to  furnish  sport  for  you?    Have  I  not 


38  THE    TINTED    YENUS. 

seen  them  come  in,  talking  boldly  and  loud,  and  yet  seat  themselves 
submissively  at  a  sign  from  you?  And  do  you  not  swathe  them  la 
the  garb  of  humiliation,  and  daub  their  countenances  with  white- 
ness, and  threaten  their  bared  throats  with  the  gleaming  knife,  and 
grind  their  heads  under  the  resistless  wheel?  Then,  having  in  dis- 
dain granted  them  their  worthless  lives,  you  set  tliem  free;  and  they 
propitJiate  you  with  a  gift,  and  depart  trembling." 

"Well,  of  all  the  topsy-turvy  contrariness!"  he  protested. 
"You've  got  it  «^^  wrong;  1  declare  you  have!  But  I'll  put  you 
right,  if  it's  possible  to  do  it."  And  he  launched  into  a  lengthy  ex- 
planation of  the  wonders  she  had  seen,  at  the  end  of  which  he  in- 
quired, "  Noio  do  you  understand  I'm  nobody  in  particular?" 

"It  may  be  so,"  she  admitted;  "but  what  of  that?  Ere  this 
have  I  been  wild  with  love  for  a  herdsman  on  Phrygian  hills.  Ay, 
Adonis  have  1  kissed  in  the  oakwood,  and  bewailed  his  loss.  And 
did  not  Selene  descend  to  woo  the  neatherd  Endymioii?  AVhcre- 
fore,  then,  should  I  scorn  thee?  and  what  are  the  differences  and 
degrees  of  mortals 'to  such  as  I?  Be  bold;  distrust  your  merits  no 
longer,  since  I,  who  amongst  the  goddesses  obtained  the  prize  of 
beauty,  have  chosen  you  for  my  own." 

"  I  don't  care  what  prizes  you  won,"  he  said,  sulkily;  "  I'm  not 
jours,  and  I  don't  intend  to  be,  either."  lie  was  watching  the 
clock  impatiently  all  the  while,  for  it  was  growing  very  near  nine. 

"  It  is  vain  to  struggle,"  she  said,  "  since  not  the  gods  themselves 
can  resist  Fate.     We  must  yield,  and  contend  not." 
"  You  begin  it  then,"  he  said;  "  give  me  my  ring." 
"  The  sole  symbol  of  my  power!  the  charm  which  has  called  me 
from  my  long  sleep !     Never ! " 

"  Then,"  said  Leander,  knowing  full  well  that  his  threat  was  an 
impossible  one,  "  1  shall  place  the  matter  in  the  hands  of  a  respect- 
able lawyer." 

"1  understand  you  not;  but  it  is  no  matter.  In  time  I  shall 
prevail." 

"  Well,  mum,  you  must  come  again  another  evening,  if  you've 
no  objection,"  said  Leander,  rudely,  "  because  I've  got  to  go  out 
just  now." 

"  I  will  accompany  you,"  she  said. 

Leander  nearly  danced  with  frenzy.  Take  the  statue  with  him 
to  meet  his  dear  Matilda!  He  dared  not.  "  You're  very  kij>d,"  he 
stammered,  perspiring  freely;  "but  I  couldn't  think  of  taking  j-ou 
out  such  a  foggy  evening." 

"  Have  no  cares  for  me,"  she  answered;  "  we  will  go  together. 
You  shall  explain  to  me  the  ways  of  this  changed  world." 

"  Catch  me  !  "  was  Leander's  elliptical  comment  to  himself;  but 
he  had  to  pretend  a  delighted  acquiescence,  "  Well,"  he  cried,  "if 
I  hadn't  been  thinking  liow  lonely  it  would  be  going  out  alone!  and 
now  I  «hall  have  the  honor  of  your  company,  mum.  You  wait  a 
bit  here,  while  I  run  upstairs  and  fetch  my  'at." 

But  the  perfidious  man  only  waited  until  he  was  on  the  other 
side  of  the  door  which  led  from  the  saloon  to  his  staircase  to  lock 
it  after  him,  and  slip  out  by  the  private  door  into  the  street. 

"Now,  my  lady,"  he  thought,  triumphantly,  "j'ou're  safe  for 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  39 

awhile,  at  all  events.    I've  put  up  the  shutters,  and  so  you  won't 
get  out  that  way.    And  now  for  Tilliel" 


CHAPTER  VI. 

TWO   ARE    COMPANY. 

The  shape 
Which  has  made  escape, 
And  before  my  countenance 
Answers  me  glance  for  glance 

Mesmerism. 

Leandee.  hastened  eagerly  to  his  trysting  place.  All  these  ob- 
stacles and  difficulties  had  rendered  his  Matilda  tenfold  dearer  and 
more  precious  to  him;  and,  besides,  it  was  more  than  a  fortnight 
since  he  had  last  seen  her.  But  he  was  troubled  and  anxious  still 
at  the  recollection  of  the  Greek  statue  shut  up  in  his  hair-cutting 
saloon.  What  would  Matilda  say  if  she  knew  abo\it  it;  and,  still 
worse,  what  might  it  not  do  if  it  knew  about  her?  Matilda  might 
decline  to  continue  his  acquaintance — for  she  was  a  very  right- 
minded  girl — unless  Venus,  like  the  jealous  and  vindictive  heathen 
she  had  shown  herself  to  be,  were  to  crush  her  before  she  even  had 
the  opportunity. 

"  It's  a  mess,"  he  thought,  disconsolately,  "whatever  way  I  look 
at  it.  But  after  to-night  1  won't  meet  Matilda  anymore  while  I've 
got  that  statue  staying  with  me,  or  no  one  could  tell  the  conse- 
quences." However,  when  he  drew  near  the  appointed  spot,  and 
saw  the  slender  form  which  awaited  him  there  by  the  railings,  he 
forgot  all  but  the  present  joy.  Even  the  memory  of  the  terrible 
divinity  could  not  live  in  the  wholesome  presence  of  the  girl  he  had 
the  sense  to  truly  and  honestly  love. 

Matilda  Colhmi  was  straight  and  slim,  though  not  tall;  she  had 
a  neat  little  head  of  light  brown  hair,  wdiich  curled  round  her  tem- 
ples in  soft  little  rings;  her  complexion  was  healthily  pale,  with  the 
sliizhtest  tinge  of  delicate  pink  in  it;  she  had  a  round  but  decided 
chin,  and  her  gray  eyes  were  large  and  innocently  severe  except  on 
the  rare  occasions  when  she  laughed,  and  then  their  expression  was 
almost  child  like  in  its  gayety. 

Generally,  and  especially  in  business  hours,  her  pretty  face  was 
calm  and  slightly  haughty,  and  rash  male  customers  who  attempted 
to  make  the  choice  of  a  "  button-hole"  an  excuse  for  flirtation  were 
not  encouraged  to  persevere.  She  was  seldom  demonstrative  to  Le- 
ander — it  was  not  her  way — but  she  accepted  his  effusive  affection 
very  contentedly,  and,  indeed,  returned  it  more  heartily  than  her 
principles  allowed  her  to  admit;  for  she  secretly  admired  his  spirit 
and  fluency,  and,  as  is  often  the  case  in  her  class  of  life,  had  no  idea 
that  she  was  essentially  her  lover's  superior. 

After  the  first  greetings  they  walked  slowly  round  the  square 
together,  his  arm  around  her  waist.  Neither  said  very  much  for 
some  minutes,  but  Leander  was  wildly,  foolishly  happy,  and  there 
was  no  severity  in  Matilda's  ej^es  when  they  siione  in  the  lamplight. 

"Well,"  he  said  at  last,  "  and  so  I've  actually  got  you  safe  back 


40  THE    TINTED    VEKUS. 

again,  my  dear,  darling  Tilly!     It  seems  like  a  long  eternity  since 
last  we  met.     I've  been  so  beastly  miserable,  Matilda!" 

"  You  do  seem  to  have  got  thinner  in  the  face,  Leander,  dear," 
said  Matilda,  compassionately;  "  \vha,t  have  you  been  doing  while 
I've  been  away?" 

"  Only  wishing  my  dearest  girl  back,  that's  all  I've  been  doing." 

"What!  haven't  you  given  yourself  any  enjoyment  at  all — not 
gone  out  anywhere  all  the  time?" 

"Not  once— leastwise,  that  is  to  say — "  A  guilty  memory  of 
Rosherwich  made  him  bungle  here. 

"Why,  of  course  I  didn't  expect  you  to  stop  in-doors  all  the 
time,"  said  Matilda,  noticing  the  amendment,  "so  long  as  you 
never  went  where  you  wouldn't  takeme," 

Oh,  conscience,  conscience!  But  Rosherwich  didn't  count:  it 
was  outside  the  radius;  and  besides  he  hadn't  enjoyed  himself. 

"  Well,"  he  said.  "1  did  go  out  one  evening,  to  hear  a  lecture  on 
Astronomy  at  the  Town  Hull,  in  the  Gray's  Inn  Road;  but  then  I 
had  the  ticket  given  me  by  a  customer,  and  I  reelly  was  surprised 
to  find  how  regular  the  stars  was  in  their  habits,  comets  and  all. 
But  my  'Tilda  is  the  only  star  of  the  evening  for  me,  to-night.  I 
don't  want  to  talk  about  anything  else." 

The  diversion  was  successful,  and  Matilda  asked  no  more  incon- 
venient questions.  Presently  she  happened  to  cough  slightly,  and 
he  touched  accusingly  the  light  summer  cloak  she  was  wearing. 

"You're  not  dressed  warm  enough  for  a  night  like  this,"  lie  said, 
with  a  lover's  concern;  "haven't  you  got  anything  thicker  to  put 
on  than  that?  " 

"I  haven't  bought  my  winter  things  yet,"  said  Matilda.  "It 
was  so  mild,  that  I  thought  I'd  wait  till  I  could  afford  it  better. 
But  I've  chosen  the  very  thing  I  mean  to  buy.  You  know  I\[rs. 
Twilling's,  at  the  top  of  the  Row,  the  corner  shop.  Well,  in  the 
window  there  is  a  perfectly  lovely  long  cloak,  all  lined  with  squir- 
rel's fur,  and  with  those  nice  oxidized  silver  fastenings.  A  cloak 
like  that  lasts  ever  so  long,  and  will  always  look  neat  and  quiet;  and 
anj;-  one  can  wear  it  without  being  stared  after;  so  I  mean  to  buy  it 
as  soon  as  it  turns  really  cold." 

"Ah!"  said  he,  "  I  can't  have  you  ketching  cold  you  know;  it 
ain't  summer  any  lunger,  and  I — I've  been  thinking  we  must  give  up 
our  evening  strolls  together  for  the  present." 

"  When  you've  just  been  saying  how  miserable  you've  been  with- 
out them.     Oh,  Leander!" 

"  Without  you,"  he  amended,  lamely.  "  I  shall  see  you  at  aunt's, 
of  course;  only  we'd  better  suspend  the  walks  while  the  nights  are 
so  raw.  And,  oh,  Tillie,  ere  long  you  will  be  mine,  my  little  wife! 
Only  to  think  of  j^ou  keeping  the  books  for  me  with  your  own 
pretty  little  fingers,  and  sending  out  the  bills  (not  that  I  give  much 
credit).  Ah,  what  a  blissful  dream  it  sounds!  Does  it  to  you,  Ma- 
tilda?" 

"  I'm  not  sure  that  you  keep  your  books  the  same  way  as  we  do," 
she  replied,  demurely ;  ' '  but  I  dare  say  " — (and  this  was  a  great  con- 
cession for  Matilda)—"  I  dare  say  we  shall  suit  one  another." 

"  Suit  one  another!'  he  cried;  "  Ah!  we  shall  be  inseparable  as 
a  brush  and  comb,  Tillie,  if  you'll  excuse  so  puffessional  a  stimu- 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  41 

lus.  And  what  a  future  lies  before  me !  If  I  can  only  succeed  in 
introducing  some  of  my  inventions  to  public  notice,  we  may  rise, 
Tilly,  'like  an  exclamation,' as  the  poet  says.  I  believe  my  new 
nasal  splint  has  only  to  be  known  to  become  universally  worn;  and 
I've  been  thinking  out  a  little  machine  lately  for  imparting  a  patri- 
cian arch  to  the  flattest  foot,  that  ought  to  have  an  extensive  run.  I 
almost  wish  you  weren't  so  pretty,  Tillie.  I've  studied  you  care- 
ful, and  I'm  bound  to  say,  as  it  is  there  really  isn't  room  for  any  im- 
provement I  could  suggest.  Nature's  beaten  me  there,  and  I'm  not 
too  proud  to  own  it." 

"  Would  you  rather  there  was  room  ?"  inquired  Matilda. 

"  From  a  puffessional  point  of  view,  it  would  have  inspired  me," 
he  said.  "It  would  have  suggested  ideers,  and  I  shouldn't  have 
loved  you  less,  not  if  you  hadn't  had  a  tooth  in  your  mouth  nor  a 
hair  on  your  head:  you  would  still  be  my  beautiful  Tillie." 

"  I  would  rather  be  as  I  am,  thank  you,"  said  Matilda,  to  whom 
this  fancy  sketch  did  not  appeal.  "  And  now  let's  talk  about  some- 
thing else.  Do  you  know  that  mamma  is  coming  up  to  town  at  the 
end  of  the  week  on  purpose  to  see  you?" 

"No,"  said  Leander,  "I — I  didn't." 

"  Yes,  she's  taken  the  whole  of  your  aunt's  first  floor  for  a  week. 
(You  know  she  knew  Miss  Tweddle  when  she  was  younger,  and 
that  was  how  I  came  to  lodge  there,  and  to  meet  you.)  Do  you 
remember  that  Sunday  afternoon  jou  came  to  tea,  and  your  aunt 
invited  me  in,  because  she  thought  I  must  be  feeling  so  dull  all 
alone?  " 

"  Ah,  I  should  think  I  did !  Do  you  remember  I  helped  to  toast 
the  crumpets?    What  a  halcyon  evenmg  that  was,  Matilda!" 

"Was  it?"  she  said.  "I  don't  remember  the  weather  exactl}'; 
but  it  was  nice  in-doors." 

"  But,  I  say,  Tillie,  my  own,"  he  said,  somewhat  anxiously,  "  how 
does  your  ma  like  your  being  engaged  to  me?" 

"  Well,  I  don't  think  she  does  like  it  quite,"  said  Matilda.  "  She 
says  she  will  reserve  her  consent  till  she  sees  whether  you  are 
worthy;  but  directly  she  sees  you,  Leander,  her  objections  will 
vanish." 

"  She  has  got  objections,  then?     What  to?" 

"  Mother  always  wanted  me  to  keep  my  affections  out  of  trade," 
eaid  Matilda.     "  You  see,  she  never  can  forget  what  poor  papa  was." 

"  And  what  was  your  poor  papa?"  asked  Leander. 

"  Didn't  you  know?  He  was  a  dentist,  and  that  makes  mamma 
so  very  particular,  you  see. " 

"But,  hang  it,  Matilda!  you're  employed  in  a  flower  shop,  you 
know." 

"Yes,  but  mamma  never  really  approved  of  it;  only  she  had  to 
give  way  because  she  couldn't  afford  to  keep  me  at  home,  and  I 
scorned  to  go  out  as  a  governess.  Never  mind,  Leander;  when  she 
comes  to  know  you  and  hear  your  conversation,  she  will  relent;  her 
pride  will  melt.'*' 

"  But  suppose  it  keeps  solid;  what  will  you  do,  Matilda?" 

"I  am  independent,  Leander;  and  though  I  would  prefer  to 
marry  with  mamma's  approval,  I  shouldn't  feel  bound  to  wait  for 


42  THE    TINTED    YENUS. 

it.  So  long  as  you  are  all  I  think  you  are,  I  shouldn't  allow  any 
one  to  dictate  to  me." 

"Bless  you  for  those  "words,  my  angelic  girl!"  he  said,  and 
hugged  her  close  to  his  breast.  "  Now  I  can  beard  your  ma  with 
a  light  'art.  Oh,  Matilda,  you  can  form  no  ideer  how  I  worship 
you.    Nothing  shall  ever  come  betwixt  us  two,  shall  it?" 

"  Nothing,  as  far  as  I  am  concerned,  Leander,"  she  replied. 
*'  What's  the  matter?" 

He  had  given  a  furtive  glance  behind  him  after  the  last  words, 
and  his  embrace  suddently  relaxed,  until  his  arm  was  withdrawn 
altogether. 

"  Nothing  is  the  matter,  Matilda,"  he  said.  "  Doesn't  the  moon 
look  red  through  the  fog?" 

"  Is  that  why  you  took  away  your  arm?"  she  inquired. 

"Yes— that  is,  no.  It  occurred  to  me  I  was  rendering  you  too 
conspicuous;  we  don't  want  to  go  about  advertising  ourselves,  you 
know." 

"  But  who  is  there  here  to  notice?"  asked  Matilda. 

"Nobody,"  he  said;  "  oh,  nobody!  but  we  mustn't  get  into  the 
way  of  it;"  and  he  cast  another  furtive,  rearward  look.  In  the  full 
flow  of  his  raptures  the  miserable  hairdresser  had  seen  a  sight  which 
had  frozen  his  very  marrow — a  tall  form,  in  flowing  drapery,  gliding 
up  behind  with  a  tigress-like  stealth.  The  statue  had  broken  out,  in 
spite  of  all  his  precautions!  Venus,  jealous  and  exacting,  was  near 
enough  to  overhear  ever}'-  word,  and  he  could  scarcely  hope  she  had 
escaped  seeing  the  arm  he  had  thrown  around  INIatilda's  waist. 

"You  were  going  to  tell  me  how  you  worishiped  me,"  said 
Matilda. 

"I  didn't  say  worship  ""ht  protested;  "it — it's  only  images  and 
such  that  expect  that.  But  I  can  tell  you  there's  very  few  brothers 
feel  to  you  as  I  feel." 

"Brothers,  Leander!"  exclaimed  Matilda,  and  walked  further 
apart  from  him. 

"  Yes,"  he  said;  "  after  all,  what  tie's  closer  than  a  brother?  A 
uncle's  all  very  well,  and  similarly  a  cousin;  but  they  can't  feel  like 
a  brother  does,  for  brothers  they  are  not." 

"I  should  have  thought  there  were  ties  still  closer,"  said  Matilda; 
"  you  seemed  to  think  so  too,  once." 

"Oh,  ah!  that!"  he  said.  (Every  frigid  word  gave  him  a  pang 
to  utter;  but  it  was  all  for  Matilda's  sake.)  "  There's  time  enough 
to  think  of  that,  my  girl;  w^e  mustn't  be  in  a  hurry." 

"  I'm  not  in  a  hurry,"  said  Matilda. 

"That's  the  proper  way  to  look  at  it,"  said  he;  "and  mean- 
while I  haven't  got  a  sister  I'm  fonder  of  than  I  am  of  you." 

"  If  you've  nothing  more  to  say  than  that,  we  had  better  part," 
she  remarked ;  and  he  caught  at  the  suggestion  with  obvious  re- 
lief. He  had  been  in  an  agony  of  terror,  lest,  even  in  the  gathering 
fog,  she  should  detect  that  they  were  watched;  and  then,  too,  it  was 
better  to  part  with  her  under  a  temporary  misconception  than  part 
with  her  altogether. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  "  I  mustn't  keep  you  out  any  longer  with  that 
cold." 

**  You  are  very  ready  to  get  rid  of  me,"  said  poor  Matilda. 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  43^ 

*'The  real  truth  is,"  he  answered,  simulating  a  yawn  with  a 
heavy  heart,  "  I  am  most  uncommon  sleepy  to-uight,  and  all  this 
standing  about  is  too  much  for  me.  So  good-bye,  and  take  care  of 
yourself!" 

"  I  needn't  say  that  to  you,"  she  said;  "  but  I  won't  keep  you  up 
a  minute  longer.     I  wonder  you  troubled  to  come  out  at  all." 

"  Oh,"  he  said,  carefully  keeping  as  much  in  front  of  the  statue 
as  he  could,  "  it's  no  trouble;  but  you'll  excuse  me  seeing  you  to 
the  door  this  evening?" 

"Oh,  certainly,"  said  Matilda,  biting  her  lip.  She  touched  his 
hand  with  the  ends  of  her  fingers,  and  hurried  away  without  turn- 
ing her  head. 

When  she  was  out  of  sight  Leander  faced  around  to  the  irrepress- 
ible goddess;  he  was  in  a  white  rage;  but  terror  and  caution  made 
him  suppress  it  to  some  extent, 

"  So  here  you  are  again !"  he  said. 

"  Why  did  you  not  wait  for  me?"  she  answered.  "  I  remained 
long  for  you;   "  you  came  not;  and  I  followed." 

"  I  see  you  did,"  said  the  aggrieved  Leander;  "  I  can't  say  I  like 
being  spied  upon.     If  you're  a  goddess,  act  as  such!" 

"  What  I  you  dare  to  upbraid  me?"  she  cried;   "  beware,  or  I — " 

"I  know,"  said  Leander,"  flinching  from  her.  "Don't  do  that; 
I  only  made  a  remark," 

"1  have  a  right  to  follow  you;  I  choose  to  do  so," 

"If  you  must,  you  must,"  he  groaned;  "but  it  does  seem 
hard  that  I  mayn't  slip  out  for  a  few  minutes'  talk  with  my  only 
sister." 

"  You  said  you  were  going  to  run  for  business,  and  you  told  me 
you  had  three  sisters." 

"  So  I  have;  but  only  one  youngest  one," 

"  And  why  did  they  not  all  come  to  talk  with  you?" 

"I  suppose  because  the  other  two  stayed  at  home,"  rejoined  Le- 
ander, sulkily. 

"  1  know  not  why,  but  I  doubt  you;  that  one  who  came,  she  is 
not  like  you!" 

"No,"  said  Leander,  with  a  great  show  of  candor,  "that's  what 
every  one  saj^s;  all  our  family  are  like  that;  we  are  like  in  a  way, 
because  we're  all  of  us  so  different.  You  can  tell  us  anywhere  just 
by  the  difference.  My  father  and  mother  were  both  very  unlike:  I 
suppose  we  take  after  them," 

The  goddess  seemed  satisfied  with  this  explanation,  "And  now 
that  I  have  regained  you,  let  us  return  to  your  abode,"  she  said; 
and  Leander  walked  back  by  her  side,  a  prey  to  rage  and  humilia- 
tion. "  It  is  a  miserable  thing,"  he  was  thinking,  "  for  a  man  in  my 
rank  of  life  to  have  a  female  statue  trotting  after  him  like  a  great 
dorg.  I'm  d— d  if  I  put  up  with  it?  Suppose  we  happen  on  some- 
body as  knows  me!" 

Fortunately,  at   that  time  of  night  Bloomsbury   Square  is  not 

much  frequented;  the  increasing  fog  prevented  the  apparition  of  a 

female  in  classical  garments  from  attracting  tlu^  notice  to  which  it 

might  otherwise  liave  been  exposed,  and  they  reached  the   shop 

•without  any  disai2;reeable  encounter. 

"She   sha'n'ts'top  in  the  saloon,"  he  determined-  "I've  had 


44  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

enough  of  that!  If  you've  no  objections,"  he  said,  with  a  mixture 
of  deference  and  dictation,  "  I  shall  be  obliged  if  you'd  settle  your- 
self in  the  little  shrine  in  the  upstairs  room  before  proceeding  to 
evaporate  out  of  your  statue;  it  would  be  more  agreeable  to  my 
feelings." 

"Ah!"  she  said,  smiling,  "you  would  have  me  nearer  you? 
Your  stubborn  heart  is  yielding;  a  little  while,  and  you  will  own  the 
power  of  Aphrodite ! " 

"  Now,  don't  you  go  deceiving  yourself  with  any  such  ideers," 
said  the  hair-dresser  irritably.  "  I  sha'n't  do  no  such  thing,  so  you 
needn't  think  it.  And  to  come  to  the  point,  how  long  do  you  mean 
to  carry  on  tliis  little  game?" 

"  Game?"  repeated  the  goddess  absently. 

"  How  long  are  you  going  to  follow  me  about  in  this  rediculous 
way?" 

"  Till  you  submit,  and  profess  your  wilHngness  to  redeem  your 
promise." 

"  Oh,  and  you're  coming  every  evening  till  then,  are  you?" 

"  At  night-fall  of  each  day  I  have  power  to  revisit  you." 

"  Well,  come  then!"  he  said  with  a  fling  of  impatient  anger.  " I 
tell  you  beforehand  that  you  won't  get  anything  by  it.  Not  if  you 
was  to  come  and  bring  a  whole  stone-mason's  yard  of  sculptures 
along  with  you,  you  wouldn't!  You  ought  to  know  better  than  to 
come  pestering  a  respectable  tradesman  in  this  bold  faced  manner!" 

She  smiled  with  a  languid,  contemptuous  tolerance,  svliich  mad- 
dened Leander. 

"  Rave  on,"  she  said.  "  Truly,  you  are  a  sorry  prize  for  such  as 
I  to  stoop  to  win;  yet  I  will  it,' nor  shall  you  escape  me.  There 
will  come  a  day  when,  forsaken  by  all  you  hold  dear  on  earth,  de- 
spised, ruined,  distracted,  you  will  pray  eagerly  for  the  haven  of  " 
refuge  to  which  I  alone  can  guide  you.  Take  heed,  lest  your  con- 
duct now  be  remembered  then!     I  have  spoken." 

They  were  indeed  her  last  words  that  evening,  and  they  im- 
pressed the  hair-dresser,  in  spite  of  himself.  Custom  habituates  the 
mind  to  any  marvel,  and  already  he  had  overcome  his  first  horror 
at  the  periodical  awakenings  of  the  statue,  and  surprise  was  swal- 
lowed up  by  exasperation;  now,  however,  he  quailed  under  her 
dark  threats.  Could  it  ever  really  come  to  pass  that  he  would  sue 
to  this  stone  to  hide  him  in  the  realms  of  the  supernatural? 

"  I  know  this,"  he  told  himself,  "  if  it  once  gets  about  that  there's 
a  hair-dresser  to  be  seen  in  Bloomsburj^  chivied  about  after  dark  by 
a  classical  statue,  I  sha'n't  dare  to  show  my  face.  Yet  I  don't  know 
how  I'm  to  prevent  her  coming  out  after  me,  at  all  events  now  and 
then.  If  she  was  only  a  little  more  like  other  people,  I  shouldn't 
mind  so  much;  but  it's  more  than  I  can  bear  to  have  to  go  about 
with  a  tablow  vivant  or  a  pose  plastique  on  my  arm!" 

All  at  once  he  started  to  his  feet.  "I've  got  it!"  he  cried,  and 
went  do\Yn-stairs  to  his  laboratory,  to  reappear  with  some  camel- 
hair  brushes,  grease-paints,  and  a  selection  from  his  less  important 
discoveries  in  the  science  of  cosmetics;  namely,  an  "eyebrow  ac- 
centuator,"  a  vase  of  "  Tweddle's  Cream  of  Carnations"  and 
"  Blondinette  Bloom,"  a  china  box  of  "  Conserve  of  Coral "  for  tire 
lips,  and  one  of  his  most  exiDcnsive  chevelures. 


THE    TIXTEi)    YEN'tS.  45 

He  was  trembling  as  he  arranged  them  upon  his  table;  not  that 
he  was  aware  of  the  enormity  of  the  act  he  contemplated,  but  he 
was  afraid  the  goddess  might  revisit  the  marble  while  he  was  en- 
gaged upon  it. 

He  furnished  the  blank  eye-sockets  with  a  pair  of  eyes,  which,  if 
not  exactl}^  artistic,  at  least  supplied  a  want;  he  penciled  the  eye- 
brows, laid  on  several  coats  of  the  "Bloom,"  which  he  suffused 
cunningly  with  a  tinge  of  carnation,  and  stained  the  pouting  lips 
with  his  "  Conserve  of  Coral." 

So  far,  perhaps,  he  had  not  violated  the  canons  of  art,  and  may 
even  have  restored  to  the  image  something  of  its  pristine  hues;  but 
his  next  addition  was  one  the  vandalism  of  which  admits  of  no 
possible  defense,  and  when  he  deftly  fitted  the  coiffure  of  light 
closely-curled  hair  upon  the  noble  classical  head,  even  Leander  felt 
dimly  that  something  was  wrong! 

"  I  don't  know  how  it  is,"  he  pondered:  "she  looks  more  natu- 
ral, but  not  half  so  respectable.  However,  when  she's  got  some- 
thing on  to  cover  the  marble,  there  won't  be  anything  much  to  no- 
tice about  her.  I'll  buy  a  cloak  for  her  the  first  thing  to-morrow 
morning.  Matilda  was  saying  something  about  a  shop  near 
here  where  1  could  get  that.  And  then,  if  this  Venus  must  come 
following  me  about,  she'll  look  less  outlandish  at  any  rate,  and 
that's  something!" 


CHAPTER  VH. 

A  FURTHER  PREDICAMENT. 

So  long  as  the  world  contains  us  both, 

Me  the  loving  and  you  the  loath. 

While  the  one  eludes,  must  the  other  pursue. 

Browning. 

Immediately  after  breakfast  the  next  day,  Leander  went  out 
and  paid  a  visit  to  Miss  Twilling's,  bringing  away  with  him  a 
hooded  cloak  of  the  precise  kind  he  remembered  Matilda  to  have 
described  as  unlikely  to  render  its  owner  conspicuous.  With  this 
garment  he  succeeded  in  disguising  the  statue  to  such  a  degree  tliat 
it  was  far  less  likely  than  before  that  the  goddess's  appearance  in 
public  would  excite  any  particular  curiosity — a  result  which  some- 
what relieved  his  anxiety  as  to  her  future  proceedings. 

But  all  that  day  his  thoughts  were  busy  with  Matilda;  he  must, 
he  feared,  have  deeply  offended  her  by  liis  abrupt  change  on  the 
previous  night;  and  now^  he  could  not  expect  to  meet  her  again  for 
days,  and  would  not  know  how  to  explain  his  conduct  if  he  did 
meet  her. 

If  he  could  only  dare  to  tell  her  everything!  but  from  such  a 
course  he  shrunk.  Matilda  would  not  only  be  extremely  indignant 
(though,  in  very  truth,  he  had  done  nothing  ])ositively  wrong  as 
yet),  but,  with  her  strict  notions  and  well  regulated  principles,  she 
would  assuredly  recoil  from  a  lover  who  had  brought  himself  into 
a  predicament  so  hideous.  He  would  tell  her  all  when,  or  if,  he 
succeeded  in  extricating  himself. 

But  he  was  to  learn  the  nature  of  Matilda's  sentiments  sooner 


46  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

than  he  expected.  It  was  growing  dusk,  and  he  was  unpacking  a 
parcel  of  goods  in  his  front  shop — for  his  saloon  happened  to  be 
empty  just  then — when  the  outer  door  swung  back,  and  a  sliglit, 
girlish  figure  entered,  after  a  pause  of  indecision  on  the  threshold. 
It  was  Matilda. 

Had  she  come  to  break  it  off — to  reproach  him?  He  was  prepared 
for  no  less;  she  had  never  paid  him  a  visit  like  this  alone  before; 
and  some  doubts  of  the  propriety  of  the  thing  seemed  to  be  troub- 
ling her  now,  for  she  did  not  speak, 

''  Matilda,"  he  faltered,  "  don't  tell  me  you  have  come  in  a  spirit 
of  unpleasantness,  for  I  can't  bear  it." 

"Don't  you  deserve  that  I  should?"  she  said,  but  not  angrily. 
"  You  know,  you  were  very  strange  in  behaving  as  you  did  last 
night.     I  couldn't  tell  what  to  make  of  it." 

"I  know,"  he  said,  confusedly,  "it  was  something  come  over 
me,  all  of  a  sudden  like.  1  can't  understand  what  made  me  like 
that;  but,  oh,  Tiilie,  my  dearest  love,  my  'art  was  busting  wilh 
adoration  all  the  time!  The  circumstances  was  highly  peculiar; 
but  I  don't  know  that  I  could  explain  them." 

"  You  needn't,  Leander;  1  have  found  you  out."  She  said  this 
with  a  strange  significance. 

"What?"  he  "almost  shrieked.  "You  don't  mean  it,  JMatilda! 
Tell  me,  quick!  has  the  discovery  changed  your  feelings  toward 
me?    Has  it?" 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  softly;  "  I — I  think  it  has;  but  you  ought  not 
to  have  done  it,  Leander." 

"  I  know,"  he  groaned,  "  I  was  a  fool,  Tiilie;  a  fool!  But  1  may 
get  out  of  it  yet,"^ he  added.  "I  can  get  her  to  let  me  off.  I  must 
—I  will!" 

Matilda  opened  her  eyes.  "But,  Leander,  dear,  listen;  don't  be 
so  hasty.     1  never  said  I  icanied  her  to  let  you  off,  did  1?" 

He  looked  at  her  in  a  dazed  manner.  "  1  rather  thought,"  he 
said,  slowly,  "  that  it  might  have  put  you  out  a  little.  I  see  I  was 
mistook." 

"You  might  have  known  that  I  should  be  more  pleased  than 
angry,  1  should  think,"  said  Matilda. 

"  More  pleased  than —  I  might  have  known!"  exclaimed  the  be- 
wildered man.  "  Oh,  you  can't  reelly  be  taking  it  as  cool  as  this! 
Will  you  kindly  inform  me  what  it  is  you're  alludiu'  to  in  this 
way?" 

"  What  is  the  use  of  pretending?  You  know  I  know.  And  it  is 
colder,  much  colder,  this  morning.     I  felt  it  directly  I  got  up." 

"  Quite  a  change  in  the  weather,  I'm  sure,"  he  said,  mechanic- 
ally; "  it  feels  like  a  frost  coming  on."  ("Has  Matilda  looked  in 
to  tell  me  the  weather's  changed?"  he  was  wondering  within  him- 
self.    "Either  I'm  mad,  or  Matilda  is.") 

"  You  dear  old  goose!"  said  Matilda,  with  an  unusual  effusive- 
ness; "  you  sha'n't  tease  me  like  this!  Do  you  think  I've  no  eyes 
and  no  feelings?  Any  girl,  I  don't  care  how  proud  or  offended, 
would  come  round,  on  such  proof  of  devotedness  as  I've  had  this 
evening.  When  I  saw  it  gone,  I  felt  1  must  come  straight  in  and 
thank  you,  and  tell  you  I  shouldn't  think  any  more  of  last  night.  I 
couldn't  stop  myself." 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  47 

"When  you  saw  what  gone?"  cried  the  hairdresser  rubbing  up 
his  hair. 

"  The  cloak,"  said  Matilda;  and  then,  as  she  saw  his  expression, 
her  own  changed.  "  Leander  Tweddle,"  she  asked,  in  a  dry,  hard 
voice,  "  have  I  been  making  a  wretched  fool  of  myself?  Didn't 
you  buy  that  cloak?" 

He  understood  at  last.  He  had  gone  to  Miss  Twilling's  chiefly 
because  he  was  iu  a  hurry  aud  it  was  close  by,  and  he  knew  no- 
where else  where  he  could  be  sure  of  getting  what  he  required. 
Now,  by  some  supreme  stroke  of  the  ill-luck  which  seemed  to  be 
pursuing  him  of  late,  he  had  unwittingly  purchased  the  identical 
garment  on  which  Matilda  had  fixed  her  affections!  How  was  he 
to  notice  that  they  took  it  out  of  the  window  for  him? 

All  this  flashed  across  him  as  he  replied,  "  Yes,  yes,  Tillie,  I  did 
buy  a  cloak  there;  but  are  you  sure  it  was  the  same  you  told  me 
about?" 

"  Do  you  think  a  woman  doesn't  know  the  look  of  a  thing  like 
that,  when  it's  taken  her  fancy  ?"  said  Matilda.  "  Why,  I  could  tell 
you  every  clasp  and  tassel  on  that  cloak;  it  wasn't  one  you'd  see 
every  day,  and  I  knew  it  was  gone  the  moment  I  passed  the  win- 
dow. It  quite  upset  me,  for  I'd  set  my  heart  on  it  so:  and  I  ran 
in  to  Miss  Twilling  and  asked  her  what  had  become  of  it,  and  when 
she  said  she  sold  it  that  morning,  I  thought  I  should  have  fainted. 
You  see,  it  never  struck  me  that  it  could  be  you ;  for  how  could  I 
dream  that  you'd  be  clever  enough  to  go  and  choose  the  very  one? 
Leander,  it  was  clever  of  you." 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  with  a  bitter  rail  against  himself,  "I'm  a  clever 
chap,  I  am.     But  how  did  you  find  out?" 

"Oh,  I  made  Miss  Twilling  (I  often  get  little  things  there),  I 
made  her  describe  who  she  sold  it  to,  and  she  said  she  thought  it 
was  to  a  gentleman  in  the  hair-cutting  persuasion  who  lived  near; 
and  then,  of  course,  I  guessed  who  bought  it." 

"  Tillie,"  gasped  Leander,  "I — I  didn't  mean  you  to  guess;  the 
purpose  for  which  I  require  that  cloak  is  my  secret." 

"  Oh,  you  silly  man,  when  I've  guessed  it!  And  I  take  it  just  as 
kind  of  you  as  if  it  was  to  be  all  a  surprise.  I  was  wishing  as  I 
came  along  I  could  afford  to  buy  it  at  once,  it  struck  so  cold  coming 
out  of  our  place;  and  you  had  actually  bought  it  for  me  all  the  time! 
Thank  you  ever  so  much,  Leander  dear!" 

Pie  had  only  to  accept  the  position ;  and  he  did,  "  I'm  glad  you're 
pleased,"  he  said;  "  I  intended  it  as  a  surprise." 

"And  I  am  surprised,"  said  Matilda;  "because,  do  you  know, 
last  night,  when  I  went  home,  I  was  feeling  very  cross  at  you?  I 
kept  tiiinking  that  perhaps  you  didn't  care  for  me  any  more,  and 
were  trying  to  break  it  off;  and  oh,  all  sorts  of  horrid  things  I  kept 
thinking!  And  aunt  gave  nie  a  message  for  you  this  morning,  and 
I  was  so  out  of  temper  I  wouldn't  leave  it.  And  now  to  find  you've 
been  so  kind!" 

She  stretched  out  her  hand  to  him  across  the  counter,  and  betook 
and  held  it  tight;  he  had  never  seen  her  lo(jking  sweeter,  nor  felt 
that  she  was  half  so  dear  to  him.  After  all,  his  blunder  had  brought 
them  together  again,  and  he  was  grateful  to  it. 

At  last  Matilda  said,  "  You  were  quite  right  about  this  wrapper. 


48  THE    Tils  TED    VEX  US. 

Leander;  it's  not  half  warm  enough  for  a  night  like  this.  I'm 
really  afraid  to  go  home  in  it." 

He  knew  welfenough  what  she  intended  him  to  do;  but  just  then 
he  dared  not  appear  to  understand.  "  It  isn't  far,  only  to  Millman 
Street,"  he  said;  "and  you  must  walk  fast,  Tillie.  I  wish  I  could 
leave  the  shop  and  come  too." 

"  You  want  me  to  ask  you  downright,"  she  said,  pouting.  "  You 
men  can't  even  be  kind  prettily.  Don't  you  want  to  see  how  I  look 
in  your  cloak,  Leander?" 

What  could  he  say  after  that?  He  must  run  upstairs,  deprive  the 
goddess  of  her  mantle,  and  hand  it  over  to  Matilda,  She  had  evi- 
dently made  up  her  mind  to  have  that  particular  cloak, and  he  must 
buy  the  statue  another.  It  would  be  expensive;  but  there  was  no 
help  for  it. 

"  Certainly,"  he  said,  "you  shall  have  it  now,  dearest,  if  you'd 
like  to.     I'll  run  up  and  fetch  it  down,  if  you'll  wait." 

He  rushed  upstairs,  two  steps  at  a  time,  and,  flinging  open  the 
door  of  a  cupboard,  began  desperately  to  uncloak  his  Aphrodite. 
She  was  lifeless  still,  which  he  considered  fortunate. 

But  the  goddess  seemed  to  have  a  natural  propensity  to  retain  any 
form  of  portable  property.  One  of  her  arms  was  so  placed  that, 
tug  and  stretch  as  he  would,  Leander  could  not  get  the  cloak  from 
her  shoulders,  and  his  eilorts  only  broke  one  of  the  oxidized  silver 
fastenings,  and  tore  part  of  the  squirrel's-fur  lining. 

It  was  useless,  and  with  a  damp  forehead  he  came  down  again  to 
his  expectant  fiancee. 

"  "VVhy,  you  haven't  got  it,  after  all!"  she  cried,  her  face  falling. 

"  Tillie,  my  own  dear  gu-1,"  he  said,  "  I'm  uncommon  sorry,  upon 
my  soul  I  am,  but  you  can't  have  that  cloak  this  evening." 

"But  why,  Leander,  why?" 

"  Because  one  of  the  clasps  is  broke.  It  must  be  sent  back  to  be 
repaired." 

"  I  don't  mind  that.     Let  me  have  it  just  as  it  is." 

"  And  the  lining's  torn.  No,  Matilda,  I  sha'n't  make  you  a  pres- 
ent of  a  damaged  article.  I  shall  send  it  back.  They  must  change 
it  for  me."  T'Theu,"  he  thought,  "I  can  buy  my  Matilda  an- 
other.") 

"  I  don't  care  for  any  other  but  that,"  she  said;  "  and  you  can't 
match  it." 

"  Oh.  Lor'!"  he  thought,  "  and  she  knows  every  inch  of  it.  The 
goddess  must  give  it  up;  it'll  be  all  the  same  to  her.  Very  well, 
then,  dearest,  you  shall  have  that,  but  not  till  it's  done  up.  I 
must  have  my  way  in  this;  and  as  soon  as  ever  I  can  I'll  bring  it 
round." 

"  Leander,  could  you  bring  it  me  by  Sunday,"  she  said,  eagerly, 
"  when  you  come?" 

"Why  Sunday?"  he  asked. 

"Because— oh,  that  was  the  message  your  aunt  asked  me  to 
bring  you;  it  was  in  a  note,  but  I've  lost  it.  She  told  me  what  was 
inside,  though,  and  it's  this:  Will  you  give  her  the  pleasure  of  your 
company  at  "her  midday  dinner  at  two  o'clock,  to  be  introduced  to 
mamma?  And  she  said  you  were  to  be  sure  and  not  forget  het 
ring." 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  49 

He  tottered  for  a  moment.  The  ring!  Yes,  there  was  that  to  be 
got  off,  too,  besides  the  cloak. 

"  Haven't  you  got  the  ring  from  Vidler's  yet?"  she  said.  "  He's 
had  it  such  a  time." 

He  had  told  her  where  he  had  left  it  for  alterations.  "  Yes,"  he 
said,  "  he  has  had  it  a  time.  It's  disgraceful  the  way  that  old  Vid- 
ler  potters  and  potters.  I  shall  go  round  and  'urry  him  up.  I  won't 
stand  it  any  longer." 

Here  a  customer  came  in,  and  Matilda  slipped  away  with  a  hur- 
ried good-bye. 

"I've  got  till  Sunday  to  get  straight,"  the  hair-dresser  thought,  as 
he  attended  on  the  new  comer,  "  the  best  part  of  the  week;  surely  I 
can  talk  that  Venus  over  by  that  time." 

When  he  was  alone  he  went  up  to  see  her,  without  losing  a  mo- 
ment. He  must  have  left  the  door  unlocked  in  his  haste,  for  she  was 
standing  before  the  low  chimney-glass,  regarding  herself  intently. 
As  he  came  in  she  turned. 

"Who  has  done  all  this?"  she  demanded.  "Tell  me,  was  it 
you?" 

"  I  did  taXie  the  liberty,  mum,"  he  faltered,  guiltily. 

"You  have  done  well,"  she  said,  graciously.  "With  reverent 
and  loving  care  have  you  imparted  hues  as  of  life  to  these  cheeks, 
and  decked  my  image  in  robes  of  costly  skins." 

"  Don't  name  it,  mum,"  he  said. 

"  But  what  are  these?"  she  continued,  raising  a  hand  to  the  light 
ringlets  on  her  brow.  "  I  like  them  not — they  are  unseemly.  The 
waving  lines  parted  by  the  bold  chisel  of  a  Grecian  sculptor  resemble 
my  ambrosial  tresses  more  nearly  than  this  abomination." 

"You  maj^  go  all  over  London,"  said  Leauder,  "and  you  won't 
find  a  coiffure,  though  1  say  it,  to  set  closer  and  defy  detection  more 
naturally  than  the  one  you've  got  on;  selected  from  the  best  im- 
ported foreign  hair  in  the  market,  I  do  assure  you." 

"  I  accept  the  offering  for  the  spirit  in  which  it  was  presented, 
though  I  approve  it  not  otherwise." 

"  You'll  find  it  wear  very  comfortable,"  said  Leander;  "  but  that 
cloak,  now  I  come  to  see  it  on,  it  reelly  is  most  unworthy  of  you,  a 
very  inferior  piece  of  goods,  and  if  you'll  allow  me  I'll  change  it," 
and  he  gently  extended  his  hand  to  draw  it  off. 

"  Touch  it  not,"  said  the  goddess;  "  for,  having  once  been  placed 
upon  my  effigy,  it  is  consecrated  to  my  service." 

"  For  mercy's  sake,  let  me  get  another  one— one  with  more  style 
about  it!"  he  entreated;  "  my  credit  Jiangs  on  it." 

"  I  am  content,"  she  said,  "more  than  content.  No  more  words 
— I  retain  it.-  And  you  have  pleased  me  by  this  conduct,  my  hair- 
dresser. Unknownit  may  be,  even  to  yourself,  your  heart  is  warm- 
ing in  tlie  sunshine  of  my  favor;  you  are  coy  and  wayward,  but  you 
are  yielding.  Though  pent  in  this  form,  carved  b}^  a  mortal  hand, 
I  sliall  prevail  in  the  end.     I  shall  have  you  for  my  own." 

He  rumpled  his  hair  wildly:  " 'Oirid  obstinate  these  goddesses 
are,"  lie  thought.  "  What  am  I  to  say  to  Matilda  now  ?  If  I  could 
only  find  a  way  of  getting  this  statue  shut  up  somewhere  where  she 
couldn't  come  and  bother  me,  I'd  take  my  chance  of  the  rest,    I 


50  THE    TINTED    VEKUS. 

can't  go  on  with  this  sort  of  thing  every  evening.  I'm  sick  and  tired 
of  it." 

Tiien  something  occurred  to  him.  "Could  I  delude  her  into 
it?"  he  aslied  himself.  "  She's  soft  enough  in  some  things,  and,  for 
all  she's  a  goddess,  she  don't  seem  up  to  our  London  waj-s  yet.  I'll 
have  a  try,  any  way." 

So  he  began:  "  Didn't  I  understand  you  to  observe,  mum,  some 
time  back,  that  the  pidgings  and  sparrers  were  your  birds?" 

"  They  are  mine,"  she  said,  "or  they  were  mine  in  days  that  are 
past." 

"  Well," he  said,  "  there's  a  place  close  by,  with  railings  in  front 
of  it,  and  steps  and  pillars  as  you  go  in,  and  if  you  like  to  go  and 
look  in  the  yard  there  you'll  find  pidgings  enough  to  set  you  up 
again.  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  they've  been  keeping  them  for  you  all 
this  time." 

"They  shall  not  lose  by  it,"  she  said.  "Go  thither  and  bring 
me  my  birds." 

"I  think,"  he  said,  "  it  would  be  better  if  you'd  go  yourself; 
they  don't  know  me  at  the  British  Museum.  But  if  you  was  to  go 
to  the  beadle  at  the  lodge  and  demand  them,  I've  no  doubt  j-ou'd  be 
attended  to;  and  you'll  see  some  parties  at  the  gates  in  long  coats 
and  black  cloth  'elmets,  which  if  you  ask  them  to  ketch  you  a  few 
sparrers,  they'll  probably  be  most  happy  to  oblige." 

"  My  beloved  birds,"  she  said,  "  I  have  been  absent  from  them  so 
long.     Yes,  I  will  go;  tell  me  where?" 

He  got  his  hat,  and  went  with  her  to  a  corner  of  Bloomsbury 
Square,  from  which  they  could  see  the  railings  fronting  the  Museum 
in  the  steel-tinted  haze  of  electric  light, 

"That's  the  place,"  he  said;  "keeps  its  own  moonshine,  you 
see.     Go  straight  in  and  tell  'em  you're  come  to  fetch  your  doves." 

"  I  will  do  so,"  she  said,  and  strode  off  in  imperious  majesty. 

He  looked  after  her  with  an  irrepressible  chuckle. 

"  If  she  ain't  locked  up  soon,  I  don't  know  myself,"  he  said,  and 
went  back  to  his  establishment. 

He  had  only  just  dismissed  his  apprentice  and  secured  the  shop 
for  the  night,  when  he  heard  the  well-known  tread  up  his  staircase. 
"  Back  again!  I  don't  have  any  luck,"  he  muttered;  and  with  rea- 
son, for  the  statue,  wearing  an  expression  of  cold  displeasure,  ad- 
vanced into  the  room.  He  felt  a  certain  sense  of  guilt  when  he  saw 
her. 

"Got  the  birds?"  he  inquired,  with  a  nervous  familiarity,  "or 
couldn't  you  bring  yourself  to  ask  for  them?" 

"You  have  misled  me,"  she  said;  "ni}^  birds  are  not  there.  1 
came  to  gates  in  front  of  a  stately  pile — doubtless  erected  to  some 
god;  at  the  entrance  stood  a  priest,  burly  and  strong,  with  gold- 
embroidered  garments — " 

("  The  beadle,  I  suppose,"  commented  Leander.) 

"  I  passed  him  unseen,  and  roamed  unhindered  over  the  court- 
yard. It  was  bare,  save  for  one  or  two  worshipers  who  crossed  it. 
Presently  a  winged  thing  fluttered  down  to  my  feet.  But  though  a 
dove  indeed,  it  was  no  bird  of  mine — it  knew  me  not.  And  it  was 
draggled,  begrimed,  uncleanly,  as  never  were  the  doves  of  Aphro- 
dite.   And  the  sparrows  (for  these,  too,  did  I  see),  they  were  worse. 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  51 

I  motioned  them  from  me  with  loathing,  I  renounced  them  all. 
Thus,  Leauder,  have  I  fared  in  following  your  counsels!" 

"  Well,  it  ain't  my  fault,"  he  said;  "  it's  the  London  soot  makes 
them  like  that.  There's  some  at  the  Guildhall;  perhaps  they're 
cleaner." 

"  No,"  she  said,  vehemently;  "  I  will  seek  no  further.  This  is  a 
city  of  darkness  and  tilth.  I  am  in  a  land,  an  age,  which  know  me 
not-  this  much  have  1  learned  already.  The  world  was  fairer  and 
brighter  of  old ! " 

"  You  see,"  said  Leander,  "  if  you  only  go  about  at  night,  you 
ean't  expect  sunshine!  But  I'm  told  there's  cleaner  and  brighter 
places  to  be  seen  abroad;  if  you  cared  to  go  there  !"  he  insinuated, 

"To  one  place  only,  to  my  Cyprian  caves,  will  I  go,"  she  de- 
clared, "and  with  you!" 

"  We'll  talk  about  that  some  other  time,"  he  answered,  sooth- 
ingly. "  Lady  Venus,  look  here,  dou't  you  think  you've  kept  that 
ring  long  enough?  I've  asked  you  civill}^  enough,  goodness  knows, 
to  'and  it  over, limes  without  number.  I  ask  you  once  more  to  act 
fair.  You  know  it  came  to  you  quite  accidental,  and  yet  you  want 
to  take  advantage  of  it  like  this.     It  ain't  right!" 

She  met  this  with  her  usual  scornful  smile,  "  Listen,  Leander," 
she  said:  "  Once  before — how  long  since  I  know  not— a  mortal,  in 
sport  or  accident,  placed  his  ring  as  you  have  done  upon  the  finger 
of  a  statue  erected  to  me,  I  claimed  fulfillment  of  the  pledge  then, 
as  now;  but  a  force  I  could  not  withstand  was  invoked  against  me, 
and  I  was  made  to  give  up  the  ring,  and  with  it  the  power  and 
rights  I  strove  to  exert.  But  I  will  not  again  be  thwarted;  no  force, 
no  being  shall  snatch  you  from  me;  so  be  not  deceived.  Submit, 
ere  you  excite  my  fierce  displeasure;  submit  now,  since  in  the  end 
submit  you  must!" 

There  was  a  dreadful  force  in  the  sonorous  tones  which  made 
him  shiver;  a  rigid  inflexible  will  lurked  in  this  form,  with  all  its 
subtle  curves  and  feminine  grace.  If  goddesses  really  retained  any 
power  in  these  days,  there  could  be  no  doubt  that  she  would  use 
hers  to  the  full. 

Yet  he  still  struggled.  "  I  can't  make  you  give  up  the  ring,"  he 
said,  "but  no  more  you  can't  make  me  leave  my~my  establish- 
ment, and  go  away  underground  with  you.  I'm  an  Englishman,  I 
am;  and  Englishmen  are"  free,  mum;'p'r'aps  you  wasn't  aware  of 
that?     I've  not  a  will  of  my  own,  and  so  you'll  find  it!" 

"  Poor  worm,"  she  said,  pityingly  (and  the  hairdresser  hated  to 
be  addre«;sed  as  a  poor  worm),  "  why  oppose  thy  weak  will  to  mine? 
Whv  enlist  my  pride  against  thyseff;  for  what  hast  thou  of  thine 
own  to  render  thy  conquest  desirable?  Thou  art  bent  upon  de- 
fiance, it  seems.  1  leave  thee  to  reflect  if  such  a  combat  can  be 
equal.     Farewell;  and  at  my  next  coming  let  me  find  a  cliange!" 

And  the  spirit  of  the  sroddoss  fled,  as  before,  to  the  mysterious 
realms  from  whicii  she  had  been  so  incautiously  evoked,  leaving 
Leander  almost  frantic  with  rage,  superstitious  terror,  and  baffled 
purposes. 

""I  must  get  the  ring  off,"  he  muttered,  "and  the  cloak,  some- 
how. Oh!  'if  I  could  only  find  out  how—  There  was  that  other 
chap— ^  got  off,  she  said'  as  much.     If  I  could  get  out  how  he 


62  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

managed  it,  why  couldn't  I  do  the  same?  But  who's  to  tell  me? 
She  won't — not  if  she  knows  it!  I  wonder  if  it's  in  any  history? 
Old  Freemoult  would  know  it  if  it  was — he's  such  a  scholar.  Why, 
he  gave  me  a  name  for  that  'airwash  without  having  to  think  twice 
over  it!  I'll  try  and  pump  old  Freemoult.  I'll  do  it  to-morrow,  loo. 
I'll  see  if  I'm  to  be  domineered  over  by  a  image  out  of  a  tea-garden. 
Eh?     I — I  don't  care  if  she  did  hear  mel" 

_  So  Leander  went  to  his  troubled  pillow,  full  of  this  new  resolu- 
tion, which  seemed  to  promise  a  way  of  escape. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

BETWEEN  THE  DEVIL  AND  THE  DEEP  6EA. 

Some,  when  they  take  Revenge,  are  Desirous  the  party  should  know  whence 
it  Cometh:  This  is  the  more  Generous.— Bacon. 

In  the  Tottenham  Court  Road  was  a  certain  Commercial  Dining- 
room  where  Leander  occasional!}'  took  his  evening  meal,  after  the 
conclusion  of  his  day's  work,  and  where  Mr.  Freemoult  was  ac- 
customed to  take  his  supper,  on  leaving  the  British  Museum  Li- 
brary. 

To  this  eating-house  Leander  repaired  the  very  next  evening, 
urged  by  a  consuming  desire  to  learn  the  full  particulars  of  the  ad- 
venture which  liis  prototype  in  misfortune  had  met  with. 

It  was  an  unpretending  little  place,  with  the  bill  of  fare  wafered 
to  the  door,  and  red  curtains  in  the  windows,  setting  off  a  display 
of  joints,  cauliflowers  and  red  herrings.  lie  passed  tiirough  into  a 
long,  low  room,  with  dark-brown  grained  walls,  partitioned  off  in 
the  usual  manner;  and  taking  a  seat  in  a  box  facing  the  door,  he 
ordered  dinner  from  one  of  the  shirt-sleeved  attendants. 

The  first  glance  had  told  him  that  the  man  he  wished  to  see  was 
not  there,  but  he  knew  he  must  come  in  before  long;  and,  in  fact, 
before  Lcander's  food  could  be  brought,  the  old  scholar  made  his 
appearance. 

He  was  hardly  a  man  of  attractive  exterior,  being  of  a  yellow 
complexion,  with  a  stubby  chin,  and  lank  iron-gray  locks.  He  wore 
a  tall  and  superannuated  hat  with  a  staring  nap,  and  the  pockets  of 
his  baggy  coat  bulged  with  documents^  Altogether  he  did  not 
seem  exactly  the  person  to  be  an  authority  on  the'subject  of  Venus. 

But,  as  the  hair-dresser  was  aware,  he  had  the  reputation  of  being 
a  mine  of  curious  and  out-ofthe-way  information,  though  few 
thought  it  worth  their  wiiile  to  work  him.  He  gained  a'living, 
however,  by  hack  work  of  various  descriptions,  and  was  in  slightly 
better  circumstances  than  he  allowed  to  appear. 

As  l>e  passed  slowly  along  the  central  passage,  in  his  usual  state 
of  abstraction,  Leander  touched  him  eagerl}^  on  the  sleeve,  "  Come 
in  'ere,  Mr.  Freemoult,  sir,"  he  said;   "  there's  room  in  this  box." 

"  It's  the  barber,  is  it?"  said  the  old  man.  "  What  do  you  want 
me  to  eat  with  you  for,  eh?" 

"  W^hy,  for  the  pleasure  of  your  company,  sir,  of  course,"  said 
Leander,  politely. 

"  Well,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  sitting  down,  while  documents 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  63 

bristled  out  of  him  in  all  directions,  "  there  are  not  many  who  would 
say  that — not  many  now," 

"""  Don't  you  say  sO,  Mr.  Freemoult,  sir.  I'm  sure  it's  a  benefit,  if 
only  for  your  conversation.  I  often  say,  '  I  never  meet  Mr.  Free- 
moult without  I  learn  somethink;'  I  do  indeed!" 

"  Then  we  must  have  met  less  often  than  I  had  imagined." 

"Now,  you  are  too  m.odest,  sir;  you  really  are— a  scholar  like 
you,  too!  Talking  of  scholarship,  you'll  be  gratified  to  hear  that 
that  title  you  were  good  enough  to  suggest  for  the  *  Regenerator '  is 
having  a  quite  surprising  sale,  I  disposed  of  five  bottles  over  the 
counter  only  yesterday."  ("These  old  scholars,"  was  his  wily  re- 
flection, "like  being  flattered  up.") 

"  Does  that  mean  you've  another  beastly  bottle  you  want  me  to 
stand  godfather  to?"  growled  the  ungrateful  old  gentleman. 

"Oh,  no,  indeed,  sir!  It's  only —  But  p'r'aps  you'll  allow  me 
previously  the  honor  of  sending  out  for  whatever  beverage  you  was 
thinking  of  washing  down  j'our  boiled  beef  with,  sir." 

"  Do  you  know  who  I  am?"  Mr.  Freemoult  bursts  out.  "  I'm  a 
scholar,  and  gentleman  enough  still  to  drink  at  my  own  expense!" 

"I  intended  no  offense,  I'm  sure,  sir;  it  was  only  meant  in  a 
friendly  way." 

"  That  is  the  offense,  sir;  that  is  the  offense!  But,  there,  we'll 
say  no  more  about  it;  you  can't  help  your  profession,  and  I  can't 
help  my  prejudices.     What  was  it  you  wanted  to  ask  mo?" 

"  Well,"  said  Leander,  "  I  was  desirous  of  getting  some  informa- 
tion respecting — ahem — a  party  by  the  name  of  (if  I've  caught  the 
foreign  pronunciation)  Haphrodite,  otherwise  known  as  Venus.  Do 
you  happen  to  have  heard  tell  of  her?" 

"  Have  I  had  a  classical  education,  sir,  or  haven't  I?  Heard  of 
her?  of  course  I  have!  But  why,  in  the  name  of  Mythology,  any 
hairdresser  living  should  trouble  his  head  about  Aphrodite,  passes 
my  comprehension.     Leave  her  alone,  sir!" 

"It's  her  who  won't  leave  we  alone,"  thought  Leander;  but  he 
did  not  say  so.  "I've  a  very  particular  reason  for  wishing  to  know ; 
and  I'm  sure  if  you  could  tell  me  all  you'd  heard  about  her,  I'd  take 
it  very  kind  of  you." 

"  Want  to  pick  my  brains;  well,  you  wouldn't  be  the  first.  But 
I  am  here,  sir,  to  rest  my  brain  and  refresh  my  body,  not  to  deliver 
peripatetic  lectures  to  hair-dressers  on  Grecian  mythology." 

"  Well,"  said  Leander,  "  I  never  meantyou  to  give  your  infoima- 
tion  peripatetic;  I'm  willing  to  go  as  far  as  half  a  crown." 

"  Conf —  -But,  there,  what's  the  good  of  being  angry  with  you? 
Is  this  the  sort  of  thing  you  want  for  your  iialf  crown?  Aphrodite, 
a  later  form  of  the  Assyrian  Astarte;  the  daughter,  according  to 
some  theogonies,  of  Zeus  and  Dione;  others  luive  it  that  she  was 
the  offspring  of  the  foam  of  the  sea,which  gathered  round  the  frag- 
ments of  the  mutilated  Uranos — " 

"  That  don't  seem  so  likely,  do  it,  sir?"  said  Leander. 

"If  you  are  going  to  crop  in  with  idiotic  remarks,  I  shall  confine 
myself  to  my  supper." 

"Don't  stop,  Mr.  Freemoult,  sir;  it's  most  instructive.  I'm  at- 
tending." 

But  the  old  gentleman,  after  a  manner  he  had,  was  sunk  in   a 


54  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

dreamy  abstraction  for  the  moment,  in  which  he  apparently  lost 
the  thread,  as  he  resumed,  "  Whereupon  Zeus,  to  punish  her,  gave 
her  in  wedlock  to  his  deformed  son,  Hephaestus." 

"She  never  mentioned  him  to  772€,"  thought  Leander;  "but  I 
suppose  she's  a  widow  goddess  by  this  time;  I'm  sure  1  hope  so." 

"  Whom,"  Mr.  Fremoult  was  saying,  "  she  deceived  upon  several 
occasions,  notably  in  the  case  of — "and  here  he  launched  into  a 
scandalous  chronicle,  which  determined  Leander  more  than  ever 
that  Matilda  must  never  know  he  had  entertained  a  personage  with 
such  a  past. 

"  Angered  by  her  indiscretions,  Zeus  inspired  her  with  love  for  a 
mortal  man." 

"  Poor  devil!"  said  Leander,  involuntarily.  "  And  what  became 
of  him,  sir?" 

"  There  were  several  thus  distinguished;  amongst  others  Anchi- 
ses,  Adonis,  and  Cinyras.  Of  these,  the  first  was  struck  by  light- 
ning; the  second  slain  by  a  wild  boar;  and  the  third  is  reputed  to 
have  perished  in  a  contest  with  Apollo." 

"  They  don't  seem  to  liave  had  no  luck,  any  of  them,"  was  Le- 
ander's  depressed  conclusion. 

"Aphrodite,  or  Venus,  as  you  choose  to  call  her,  took  a  promi- 
nent part  in  the  Trojan  w^ar,  the  origin  of  which  ten  years'  struggle 
maj'  be  traced  to  a  certain  g:olden  apple." 

"  What  an  old  rag-bag  it  is! "  thought  Leander.  "  I'm  only  wast- 
ing money  on  liim.  He's  like  a  bran-pie  at  a  fancy  fair:  what  you 
get  out  of  him  is  always  the  thing  you  didn't  want." 

"  No,  no,  Mr.  Frcemoult,"  lie  paid,  with  some  impatience,  "  leave 
out  about  the  w  ar  and  the  apple.  It — it  isn't  either  of  them  as  I 
wanted  to  hear  about." 

"  Then  I  have  done,"  said  the  old  man,  curtly;  "  you've  had  con- 
siderable more  than  half  a  crown's  worth,  as  it  is." 

"  Look  here,  Mr.  Froemouit,"  said  the  reckless  hair-drcsser,  "  if 
you  can't  give  me  no  better  value,  I  don't  mind  laying  out  another 
sixpence  in  questions." 

"  Put  your  questions,  then,  by  all  means,  and  I'll  give  you  your 
fair  sixpenn'orth  of  answers.  Now,  then,  I'm  ready  for  you. 
What's  your  difficulty?  out  with  it." 

"  Why,"  said  Leander,  in  no  small  confusion,  "  isn't  there  a  story 
somewhere  of  a  statue  to  Venus  as  some  young  man  (a  long  time 
back  it  was,  of  course)  was  said  to  have  put  his  ring  on?  and  do 
you  know  the  rights  of  it?  I — I  can't  remember  how  it  ended 
myself." 

"  Wait  a  bit,  sir;  I  think  I  do  remember  something  of  the  legend 
you  refev  to.  "  You  found  it  in  the  '  Earthly  Paradise,'  [  make  no 
doubt?" 

"  I  found  it  in  Roscrwich  Gardens,"  Leander  very  nearly  blurted 
out;  but  he  stopped  himself,  and  said  instead,  "  I  don't  think  I've 
ever  been  there,  sir;  not  to  remember  it." 

"  Well,  well!  you're  no  lover  of  poetry,  that's  very  evident;  but 
the  story  is  there.  Yes,  yes;  and  Burton  has  a  version  of  it  too  in 
his  '  Anatomy.'  How  does  it  go?  Give  my  head  a  minute  to  clear 
and  I'll  tell  you.  Ha!  I  have  it!  It  was  something  like  this:  There 
was  a  certain  young  gentleman  of  Rome  who,  on  his  wedding-day, 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  65 

went  out  to  play  tennis;  and  in  the  tennis-court  was  a  brass  statue 
of  the  goddess  Venus — " 

("  Mine  ouglit  to  be  brass,  from  her  goings  on,"  thought  Leander.) 

"  And  while  he  played  he  took  off  his  tiuger-ring  and  put  it  upon 
the  statue's  hand;  a  mighty  foolish  act,  as  you  will  agree." 

"A.h!"said  Leander,  shaking  his  head,  "you  may  say  that! 
What  next,  sir?"  He  became  excited  to  find  that  he  really  was  on 
the  right  track  at  last. 

"Why,  when  the  game  was  over  and  he  came  to  get  his  ring,  he 
found  he  couldn't  get  it  off  again.  Ha!  ha!"  and  the  old  man 
chuckled  softl3^  ancl  then  relapsed  once  more  into  silence. 

"  Yes,  yes,  Mr.  Freemoult,  sir!  I'm  a-listening;  it's  very  funny; 
only  do  go  on!" 

"Go  on?  Where  was  I?  Hadn't  I  finished?  Ah,  to  be  sure! 
Well,  so  Paris  gave  her  the  apple,  you  see." 

"  I  didn't  understand  you  to  allude  to  no  apple."  said  his  puzzled 
hearer;  "arid  it  w^as  at  Rome,  I  thought,  not  Paris.  Briug  your 
mind  more  to  it,  sir;  we'd  got  to  the  ring  not  coming  off  the  statue." 

"  I  know,  sir;  1  know.  My  mind's  clear  enough,  let  me  tell  you. 
That  very  night  (as  I  was  about  to  say,  if  you'd  had  patience  to 
hear  me)  Venus  stepped  in  and  parted  the  unfortunate  pair — " 

"  It  was  a  apple  just  now,  you  aggravating  old  muddle  'ed!"  said 
Leander,  internally. 

"Venus  informed  the  young  man  that  he  had  betrothed  himself 
to  her  by  that  ring"  ("Same  game  exactly,"  thought  the  pupil), 
"  and— and,  in  short,  she  led  him  such  a  life  for  some  nights  that 
he  could  bear  it  no  longer.  So  at  length  he  repaired  to  a  certain 
mighty  magician,  called — let  me  see,  what  was  his  name  again?  It 
wasn't  Agrippa — w^as  it  Albertus?  Odd,  it  has  escaped  me  for  the 
moment," 

"Never  mind,  sir;  call  him  Jones." 

"  I  will  not  call  him  Jones,  sir!  1  had  it  on  my  tongue — there, 
Palumhus!  Palumbusit  was.  Well,  Palumbus  told  him  the  goddess 
would  never  cease  to  trouble  him,  unless  he  could  get  back  the  ring 
— unless  he  could  get  back  the  ring." 

Leander's  heart  began  to  beat  high ;  the  solution  of  his  difficulty 
was  at  hand.  It  was  something  to  know  for  certain  that  upon  re- 
covery of  the  ring  the  goddess's  power  would  be  at  an  end.  It  only 
remained  to  find  out  how  the  other  young  man  managed  it.  "  Yes, 
Mr.  Freemoult?"  he  said,  interrogativefy ;  for  the  "old  gentleman 
had  run  down  again. 

"I  was  onl}'  thinking  it  out.  To  resume  then.  No  sooner  had 
the  magician  (whose  name  I  said  was  Apollonius)  come  to  the  wed- 
ding, than  he  prompt!}'-  conjectured  the  bride  to  be  a  serpent; 
whereupon  she  vanished  incontinently,  after  the  manner  of  serpents, 
with  the  house  and  furniture." 

"  Haven't  you  missed  out  a  lot,  sir?"  inquired  Leander,  deferen- 
tially, "because  it  don't  seem  to  me  to  hook  on  quite.  What  be- 
came of  Venus  and  the  ring?" 

"  How  the  dickens  am  I  to  tell  you,  if  you  will  interrupt?  Ring! 
What  ring?  Wliy,  yes:  the  magician  gave  the  young  man  a  certain 
letter,  and  told  him  to  go  to  a  particular  cross-road  outside  the  city, 
at  dead  of  night,  and  wait  for  Saturn  to  pass  by  in  procession,  with 


66  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

his  fallen  associates.  This  he  did,  and  presented  the  magician's 
letter;  which  Saturn,  after  having  read,  called  Venus  to  him,  who 
was  riding  in  front,  and  commanded  her  to  deliver  up  the  ring." 

Here  he  stopped,  as  if  be  had  nothing  to  add. 

"  And  did  slie,  sir?"  asked  Leauder,  breathlessly. 

"  Did  she  wliat?  give  up  the  ring!  Of  course  she  did — haven't  I 
been  saying  so?     Why  not?" 

"  Well,"  observed  Leander,  "so  that's  how  he  got  out  of  it,  was 
it?  Hah!  he  was  a  lucky  chap.  Those  were  the  daj^s  when  ma- 
gicians did  a  good  trade,  I  suppose?  Should  you  say  there  were 
any  such  parties  now,  on  the  quiet  like,  eh,  sir?" 

"Bah!  Magic  is  a  lost  art,  degraded  to  dark  seances  and  juve- 
nile parlies— the  last  magician  dead  for  more  than  two  hundred 
years.  Don't  expose  your  ignorance,  sir,  by  any  more  such  ques- 
tions." 

"  No,"  said  Leander;  "  I  thought  as  much.  And  so,  if  any  one 
was  to  get  into  such  a  fix  nowadays — of  course  that's  only  my  talk, 
but  if  they  did — there  ain't  a  practicing  magician  anj'where  to  help 
him  out  of  it.     That's  your  opinion,  ain't  it,  sir?" 

"As  the  danger  of  such  a  contingency  is  not  immediate,"  was 
the  reply,  "  the  want  of  a  remedy  need  not,  in  my  humble  opinion, 
cause  you  any  grave  uneasiness." 

"  No,"  agreed  Leander,  dejectedly;  "  I  don't  care,  of  course.  I 
was  only  thinking  that,  in  case— but  tliere,  it's  no  odds!  Well,  Mr. 
Freemoult,  you've  told  me  what  I  was  curious  to  know,  and  here's 
your  little  honnyrarium,  sir — two  shillings  and  two  sixpences,  mak- 
ing three  shillings  in  all,  pre-cisely." 

"Keep  your  money,  sir,"  said  the  old  man,  with  contemptuous 
good  humor,  "my  working  hours  are  done  for  the  day,  and  you're 
welcome  enough  to  any  instruction  you're  capable  of  receiving  from 
my  remarks.     It's  not  saying  much,  I  dare  say." 

"Oh,  you  told  it  very  clear,  considering,  sir,  I'm  sure!  I  don't 
grudge  it." 

"  Keep  it,  I  tell  you,  and  say  no  more  about  it." 

So,  expressing  his  thanks,  Leander  left  the  place;  and,  when  he 
was  outside,  felt  more  keenly  than  ever  the  blow  his  hopes  had  sus- 
tained. 

He  knew  the  whole  story  of  his  predecessor  in  misfortune  now, 
and,  as  a  precedent,  it  was  worse  than  useless. 

True,  for  an  instant  a  wild  idea  had  crossed  his  mind,  of  seeking 
some  lonely  suburban  cross-road  at  dead  of  night,  just  to  see  if  any- 
thing came  of  it.  "  The  last  time  was  several  hundred  3'ears  ago,  it 
seems,"  he  told  himself;  "  but  there's  no  saying  that  Satan  mightn't 
come  by  for  all  that.  Here's  Venus  persecuting  as  lively  as  ever, 
and  I  never  heard  the  devil  was  dead.  I've  a  good  mind  to  take  the 
tram  to  the  Archway,  and  walk  out  till  I  find  a  likely-looking  place." 

But,  on  reflection,  he  gave  this  up.  "If  he  did  come  by,  I 
couldn't  bring  him  a  line — not  even  from  the  conjurer  in  High 
'Oborn — and  Satan  might  make  me  put  my  hand  to  something 
binding,  and  I  shouldn'^  be  no  better  off.  No;  I  don't  see  no  way 
of  getting  back  my  ring  and  poor  Tillie's  cloak,  nor  yet  getting  rid 
of  that  goddess,  any  more  than  before.  There's  one  comfort,  I 
can't  be  any  worse  off  than  I  am." 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  57 

Oppressed  by  these  gloomy  reflections,  he  returned  to  his  home, 
expecting  a  renewal  of  his  nightly  persecution  from  the  goddess; 
but  from  some  cause,  into  which  he  was  too  grateful  to  care  lo  in- 
quire, the  statue  that  evening  showed  no  sign  of  life  in  his  presence, 
and  after  waiting  with  the  cupboard  open  for  some  time  in  sus- 
pense, he  ventured  to  make  himself  some  coffee. 

He  had  scarcely  tasted  it,  however,  before  he  heard,  from  the 
passage  below,  a  low  whistle,  followed  by  the  peculiar  stave  by 
which  a  modern  low-life  Blondel  endeavors  to  attract  notice.  The 
Iiair-dresser  paid  no  attention,  being  used,  as  a  Londoner,  to  hearing 
such  signals,  and  not  imagininii  they  could  be  intended  for  his  ear. 

But  presently  a  handful  of  gravel  rattled  against  his  window,  and 
the  whistle  w^as  repeated.  He  went  to  the  window  cautiousl}'-,  and 
looked  out.  Below  were  two  individuals,  rather  carefully  muffled; 
their  faces,  which  were -only  indistinctly  seen,  were  upturned  to 
him. 

He  retreated,  trembling.  He  had  had  so  much  to  think  of  lately, 
that  the  legal  danger  he  was  running,  by  harbori)jg  the  detested 
statue,  was  almost  forgotten ;  but  now  he  remembered  the  inspect- 
or's words,  and  his  legs  bent  beneath  him.  Could  these  people  be 
detectives  ? 

"  Is  that  Mr.  Tweddle  up  there?"  said  a  voice  below,  "  because 
if  it  is,  he'd  better  come  down,  double  quick,  and  let  us  in,  that's 
all!" 

"'Ere,  don't  you  skulk  up  there,"  added  a  coarser  voice;  "we 
know  y'er  there;  and  if  y'er  don't  come  down  to  us,  why,  we'll 
come  up  to  you." 

This  brought  Leander  forward  again.  "  Gentlemen,"  he  said, 
leaning  out,  and  speaking  in  an  agitated  whisper,  "for  goodness' 
sake,  what  do  you  want  with  me?" 

"  You  let  us  in,  and  wx'll  tell  you." 

"Will  it  do  if  I  come  down  and  speak  to  you  outside?"  said 
Leander. 

There  was  a  consultation  between  the  two  at  this,  and  at  the 
end  of  it,  the  first  man  said:  "  It's  all  the  same  to  us  where  we  have 
our  little  confabulation.     Come  down,  and  look  sharp  about  it!" 

Leander  came  down,  taking  care  to  shut  the  street  door  behind 
him.     "  You  ain't  the  police?"  he  said,  apprehensively 

They  each  took  an  arm,  and  walked  him  roughly  off  between 
them  toward  Queen  Square.  "  We'll  show  you  who  we  are,"  they 
said. 

"  I — I  d<-'mand  your  authority  for  this,"  gasped  Leander.  "  What 
am  I  charged  with?" 

They  had  brought  him  into  the  gloomiest  part  of  the  square, 
where  the  houses,  used  as  offices  '.n  the  day-time,  were  now  dark  and 
deserted.  Here  they  jammed  him  up  against  the  raiUngs,  and  stood 
guard  over  him,  while  he  was  alarmed  to  perceive  a  suppressed  fe- 
rocity in  the  faces  of  both. 

"What  are  you  charged  with?  Grr! —  For  'arf  a  pint  I'd 
knock  your  bloomin'  'ed  in!"  said  the  coarser  gentleman  of  the  two 
— an  evasive  form  of  answer  which  did  not  seem  to  promise  a 
pleasant  interview. 

Leander  w'as  not  naturally  courageous,  and  what  he  had  gone 


5S  THE    TINTED    VENtJS. 

through  lately  had  shaken  his  nerves.  He  thought  that,  for  police- 
men, they  showed  too  strong  a  personal  feeling;  but  who  else  could 
they  be?  He  could  not  remember  having  sei.n  either  of  them  be- 
fore. One  was  a  tall,  burly,  heavy-jawed  man;  the  other  smaller 
and  slighter,  and  apparently  the  superior  of  the  two  in  education 
and  position. 

"You  don't  remember  me,  I  see,"  said  the  latter,  and  then  sud- 
denly changing  his  tone  to  a  foreign  accent,  he  said:  "  Haf  you 
been  since  to  drink  a  glass  of  beer  at  your  open-air  gardens  at  Kosh- 
er wich?" 

Leander  knew  him  then.  It  was  his  foreign  customer  of  Mon- 
day evening;  his  face  was  clean-shaven  now,  and  his  expression 
cJianged— not  for  the  better. 

"  I  think,"  he  said,  faintly,  "I  had  the  privilege  of  cutting  your 
'air  the  other  evening." 

"  You  did,  my  friend,  and  I  admired  your  taste  for  the  fine  arts. 
This  gentleman  and  I  have,  on  talking  it  over,  been  so  struck  by 
what  I  saw  that  evening  that  we  ventured  to  call  and  inquire  into 
it." 

"  Look  'ere,  count,"  said  his  companion,  "  there  ain't  time  for  all 
that  perliteness.  You  leave  him  to  me;  TU  talk  to  him!  Now, 
then,  you  white-livered  little  airy -sneak,  do  you  know  wlio  we  are?" 

"No,"  said  Leander;  and,  excuse  me  calling  of  your  attention  to 
it,  but  you're  pinching  my  arm!" 

"  I'll  pinch  it  olf  before  I've  done,"  said  the  burly  man.  "  Well, 
we're  the  men  that  have  planned  and  strived  and  run  all  the  risk, 
that  you  and  your  gang  might  cut  in  and  carry  off  our  honest  earn- 
ings. You  infernal  little  hair-cutting  shrimp,  you!  To  think  of 
being  beaten  by  the  likes  of  you!  It's  sickening,  that's  what  it  is, 
sickening!" 

"  I  don't  understand  you — as  I  live,  gentlemen,  I  don't  understand 
you!"  pleaded  Leander. 

"  You  understand  us  well  enouch,"  said  the  ex-foreigner,  with  an 
awful  imprecation  on  all  Leander's  salient  features;  "  but  you  shall 
have  it  all  in  black  and  white.  We're  the  party  that  invented  and 
carried  out  that  little  job  at  Wricklesmarsli  Court." 

"Burglars!  do  you  mean  you're  burglars?"  cried  the  terrified 
Leander. 

"  We  started  as  burglars,  but  we've  finished  by  being  made  cat's- 
paws  of — by  you,  curse  j^ou!  You  didn't  think  we  should  find  you 
out,  did  j'ou?  But  if  you  w^anted  to  keep  us  in  the  dark,  you  made 
two  awkward  little  slips;  one  was  leaving  your  name  and  address  at 
the  gardens  as  the  party  who  was  supposed  to  have  last  seen  the 
statue,  and  the  other  was  keeping  the  said  statue  standing  about  in 
your  hair-cutting-room,  to  meet  the  eye  of  any  gentleman  calling 
out  of  curiosity,  and  never  expecting  such  a  find  as  that." 

■*  What's  the  good  of  jawing  at  him,  count?  that  won't  satisfy 
me,  it  won't,  'Ere,  I  can't  'old  myself  off  him  any  longer.  1  must 
put  a  'ed  on  him." 

But  the  other  interposed.  "  Patience,  my  good  Braddle;  no  vio- 
lence. Leave  him  to  me;  he's  a  devilish  deep  fellow,  and  deserves 
all  respect."  (Here  he  shook  Leander  like  a  rat.)    "  You've  stolen  a 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  59 

march  on  us,  you  condemned  little  hair-dressing  ape,  you  1     How 
did  you  do  it?    Out  with  it!     How  the  devil  did  you  do  it?" 

'*  For  the  love  of  heaven,  gents,"  pleaded  Leander,  without  re- 
flecting that  he  might  have  found  a  stronger  inducement,  "  don't 
use  violence !     How  did  I  do  what  ? 

"Count,  I  can't  answer  for  mj'self,"  said  the  man  addressed  as 
Braddle.  "  I  shall  send  a  bullet  into  him,  if  you  don't  let  me  work 
it  off  with  fists ;  I  know  I  shall ! " 

"Keep  quiet,"  said  his  superior,  sternly.  " Don't  you  see  i'wi 
quiet?"  and  he  twisted  his  knuckles  viciously  into  Leander's  throat. 
"  If  you  call  out,  you're  a  corpse!" 

"I  wasn't  thinking  of  calling  out,  indeed  I  wasn't;  I'm  quite 
satisfied  with  being  where  I  am,"  said  Leander,  "if  you'd  only 
leave  me  a  little  more  room  to  choke  in,  and  tell  me  what  I've  done 
to  put  you  both  in  such  tremenjous  tempers." 

-"  Done?  you  cur,  when  you  know  well  enough  you've  taken  the 
bread  out  of  our  mouths,  the  bread  we'd  earned !  D'ye  suppose  we 
left  that  statue  in  the  gardens  for  the  like  of  you?  Who  put  you  up 
to  it?  How  many  were  there  in  it?  What  do  you  mean  to  do  now 
you've  got  it?  Speak  out,  or  I  swear  I'll  cut  your  heart  out,  and 
throw  it  over  the  railings  for  the  tomcats;  I  will,  you !" 

The  man  called  Braddle,  as  he  uttered  this  threat,  looked  so  very 
anxious  to  execute  it,  that  Leander  gave  himself  up  for  lost. 

"  As  true  as  I  stand  here,  gentlemen,  I  didn't  steal  that  statue." 

"  I  doubt  you're  not  the  build  for  taking  the  lead  in  that  sort  of 
thing,"  said  the  count,  "but  you  were  in  it;  you  went  down  that 
Saturday  as  a  blind.     Deny  it  if  you  dare." 

"  Leander  did  not  dare.  "  I  could  not  help  myself,  gentlemen," 
he  faltered. 

"  Who  said  you  could?  And  you  can't  help  yourself  now,  either; 
so  make  a  clean  breast  of  it.  Who  are  you  standing  in  with?  Is  it 
Potter's  lot?" 

If  Leander  had  declared  himself  to  be  alone,  things  might  have 
gone  harder  with  him,  and  they  certainly  would  never  have  believed 
him ;  so  he  said  it  was  Potter's  lot. 

"  I  told  you  Potter  was  after  that  marble,  and  you  wouldn't  have 
it,  count,"  growled  Braddle.     "  Now  you're  satisfied." 

The  count  comprised  Potter  and  his  lot  in  a  new  and  original 
malediction  byway  of  answer,  and  then  said  to  Leander,  "Did 
Potter  tell  you  to  let  that  Venus  stand  where  all  the  world  might 
see  it?" 

"  I  had  no  discretion,"  said  the  hair-dresser.  "  I'm  not  responsi- 
ble, indeed,  gents." 

"  No  discretion !  I  should  think  you  hadn't.  Nor  Potter  either, 
acting  the  dog  in  the  manger  like  this.  Where'll  hefimX  his  market 
for  it,  eh?  What  orders  have  you  got?  When  are  you  going  lo 
get  it  across?" 

"I've  no  notions.  I  haven't  received  no  directions,"  said  Le- 
ander. 

"  A  nice  sort  o'  mug  you  are  to  be  trusted  with  a  job  like  this," 
eaid  Braddle.  "I  did  think  Potter  was  better  up  in  his  work,  I 
did.     A  pretty  bungle  he'll  make  of  it!" 

"It  would  serve  him  right,  for  interfering  with  fellow-profes- 


60  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

sionals  in  this  infernal  unprincipled  manner;  but  lie  sha'n't  have  the 
chance,  Braddle,  he  sha'n't  have  the  chance ;  we'll  steal  a  march  on 
him  this  time." 

"  Is  the  coast  clear  j^et?"  said  Braddle. 

"  We  must  risk  it.  We  sball  find  a  route  for  it,  never  fear," 
was  the  reply.  "  Now,  you  cursed  hair-dresser,  you  listen  to  what 
I'm  going  to  tell  you.  Tliat  Venus  is  our  lawful  properly,  and, 
by—,  we  mean  to  get  her  into  our  hands  agnin;  d'ye  hear  that?" 

Leander  heard,  and  with  delight.  So  long  as  he  could  once  get 
free  from  the  presence  of  the  statue,  and  out  of  the  cross-fire  of 
burglars  and  police,  he  was  willing  by  tliis  time  to  abandon  the 
cloak  and  ring. 

"I  can  truly  say,  1  hope  you'll  be  successful,  gents,"  be  replied. 

"  We  don't  want  your  hopes,  we  want  your  help.  You  must 
round  on  Potter." 

"  Must  I,  irents?"  said  Leander.  "  Well,  to  oblige  you,  whatever 
it  costs  me,  1  icill  round  on  Potter." 

"  Take  care  you  stick  to  that,"  said  Braddle.  "  The  next  pint, 
count,  is  'ow  we're  to  get  ])er." 

"Come  in  and  take  her  away  now,"  said  Leander,  eagerly. 
"  She'll  be  quiet.  I — I  mean  the  hoiiseW  be  quiet  now.  You'll  be 
very  welcome,  I  assure  you.     1  won't  interfere." 

"You're  a  bright  chap  to  go  in  for  a  purfcssion  like  ours,"  said 
Mr.  Braddle,  with  intense  disgust.  "  How  do  yer  suppose  we're 
to  do  it;  take  her  to  pieces,  eh,  and  bring  her  along  in  our  pockets? 
Do  you  think  we're  flats  enough  to  run  the  cliance  of  being  seen  in 
the  streets  by  a  copper,  lugging  that  'ere  statue  along?" 

',  We  must  have  the  light  cart  again  and  a  sack,"  said  the  count. 
"  It's  too  late  to-night." 

"  And  it  ain't  safe  in  the  day-time,"  said  Braddle.  "  We're  wanted 
for  that  job  at  Camberwell,  that  puts  it  on  to  morrow  evening.  But 
suppose  Potter  has  fixed  the  same  time?" 

"  Here,  you  know.  Has  Potter  fixed  the  same  time?"  the  count 
demanded  from  Leander. 

"No,"  said  Leander;  "Potter  ain't  said  nothing  to  me  about 
moving  her." 

"  Then  you  are  man  enough  to  undertake  Potter,  if  he  starts  the 
idea?    Are  yowl     Come?" 

"Yes,  gents,  I'll  manage  Potter.  You  break  in  any  time  after 
midnight,  and  I  engage  you  shall  find  the  Venus  on  tlie  premises." 

"  But  we  want  more  than  that  of  you,  you  know.  We  musn't 
lose  any  time  over  this  job.  You  must  be  ready  at  the  door  to  let 
us  in,  and  bear  a  hand  with  her  down  to  the  cart." 

But  this  did  not  suit  Leander's  views  at  all.  He  was  determined 
to  avoid  all  personal  risks;  and  to  be  caught  helping  the  burglars  to 
carry  off  the  Aphrodite  would  be  fatal. 

He  was  recovering  his  presence  of  mind,  As  his  tormentors 
had  sensibly  relaxed,  he  was  able  to  take  steps  for  his  own  security. 

"  1  beg  pardon,  gents,"  he  said,  "but  I  don't  want  to  appear  in 
this  myself.  There's  Potter,  you  s^e;  he's  a  hawful  man  to  go 
against.  You  know  what  Potter  is  yourselves."  (Potter  was  really 
coming  in  quite  usefully,  he  began  to  think.) 

"  Well^  I  don't  suppose  Potter  would  make  more  bones  about 


THE    Tli^TED    VENUS.  61 

slitting  your  throat  than  we  should  if  he  knew  you'd  played  him 
false,"  said  the  count.  "But  we  can't  help  that;  in  a  place  like 
this  it's  too  risky  to  break  in  when  we  can  be  let  in." 

"If  you'll  only  excuse  me  taking  an  active  part,"  said  Leander, 
"it's  all  I  ask.  This  is  my  plan,  gentlemen.  You  see  that  little 
archway  there,  where  my  finger  points;  well,  that  leads  by  a  small 
alley  to  a  3'ard  back  of  my  saloon.  You  can  leave  your  cart  here 
and  come  round  as  safe  as  you  please.  I'll  have  the  window  in  my 
saloon  unfastened,  and  put  the  statue  where  you  can  get  her  easy; 
but  I  don't  want  to  be  mixed  up  in  it  further  than  that." 

"  That  seems  fair  enough,"  said  the  count,  "provided  you  keep 
to  it." 

"But  suppose  it's  a  plant?"  growled  Braddle.  "Suppose  he's 
planning  to  lay  a  trap  for  us?  Suppose  we  get  in  to  find  Potter 
and  his  lot  on  the  lookout  for  us,  or  break  into  a  house  that's  full  of 
bloomin'  coppers?  " 

"  I  did  not  think  of  that;  but  I  believe  our  friend  knows  that  if 
he  doesn't  act  square  with  me  his  life  isn't  worth  a  bent  pin;  and, 
besides  he  can't  warn  the  police  without  getting  himself  into  more 
or  less  hot  water.  So  I  think  he'll  see  the  wisdom  of  doing  what 
he's  told." 

"I  do,"  said  Leander,  "1  do,  gentlemen.  I'd  sooner  die  than 
deceive  you." 

"Well,"  said  the  count,  "  you'd  find  it  come  to  the  same  thing." 

"  No,"  added  Braddle;  "  if  you  blow  the  gaff  on  us,  my  bloomin', 
I'll  saw  that  pudden  head  of  yours  right  off  your  shoulders,  and 
swing  for  it,  cheerful." 

Leander  shuddered.  Amongst  what  desperate  rutfians  had  his 
unlucky  stars  led  him?  How  would  it  all  end,  he  wondered  feeblj^ 
how? 

"Well,  gentlemen,"  he  said,  with  his  teeth  chattering,  "  if  you 
don't  want  me  any  more,  I'll  go  in;  and  I'm  to  expect  you  to-mor- 
row evening,  I  believe?" 

"Expect  us  when  you  'ear  us,"  said  Braddle;  "  and  if  you  make 
fools  of  us  again — "  and  he  described  consequences  which  exceeded 
in  unpleasantness  the  worst  that  Leander  could  have  imagined. 

Tlie  poor  man  tottered  back  to  his  room  again  in  a  most  unen- 
viable frame  of  mind ;  not  even  the  prospect  of  being  delivered  from 
the  goddess  could  reconcile  him  to  the  price  he  must  pay  for  it.  He 
was  going  to  take  a  plunge  into  downright  crime  now;  and  if  his 
friend  the  inspector  came  to  hear  of  it.Vidn  must  follow.  And,  in 
any  case,  the  cloak  and  the  ring  would  be  gone  beyond  recovery, 
while  these  cut-throat  house-breakers  would  henceforth  have  a  hold 
over  him.  They  might  insist  upon  steeping  him  in  blacker  crime 
still,  and  he  knew  he  would  never  liave  the  courage  to  resist. 

As  he  thought  of  the  new  difficult ics  and  dangers  that  compassed 
him  round  about,  he  was  frequently  on  the  verge  of  tears,  and  his 
couch  that  night  was  visited  by  dreadful  dreams,  in  which  besought 
audience  of  the  Evil  One  himself  at  cross-roads,  was  chased  over  half 
London  by  police,  and  dragged  over  the  other  half  by  burglars,  to 
be  finally  flattened  by  the  fall  of  Aphrodite, 


62  THE    Tli^TED    VENUS. 


CHA.PTER  IX. 

AT   last! 

Does  not  the  stone  rebuke  me 
For  being  more  stone  than  it? 

Winter's  Tale. 

Yet  did  he  loathe  to  see  the  image  fair, 

White  and  unchanged  of  face,  unmoved  of  limb! 

Earthly  Paradise. 

Leasideii's  hand  was  very  tremulous  all  the  next  da}',  as  several 
indignant  clients  discovered,  and  he  closed  as  early  as  he  could, 
feeling  it  impossible  to  attend  to  business  under  the  circumstances. 

About  seven  o'clock  he  went  up  to  his  sitting  room;  a  diflicult 
and  ungrateful  task  was  before  him.  To  faciUtate  her  removal  lie 
must  persuade  the  goddess  to  take  up  a  position  in  the  saloon  for 
the  night;  and,  much  as  he  had  suffered  from  her,  tjjcre  was  some- 
thing traitorous  in  deceiving  her  and  delivering  her  over  to  these 
coarse  burglars. 

He  waited  until  the  statue  showed  signs  of  returning  animation, 
and  then  said,  "Good-evening,  mum,"  more  obsequiously  than 
usual. 

She  never  deigned  to  notice  or  return  his  salutations.  "Hair- 
dresser," she  said,  abruptly,  "  I  am  weary  of  this  sordid  place." 

He  was  pleased,  for  it  furthered  his  views.  "  It  isn't  so  sordid  in 
the  saloon,  where  j'ou  stood  the  other  evening,  you  know,"  he  re- 
plied.    "  Will  you  step  down  there?" 

"Bah!"  she' said,  "it  is  all  sordid.  Lcander,  a  restlessness  has 
come  upon  me.  I  come  back  night  after  night  out  of  the  vague- 
ness in  which  I  have  lain  so  long,  and  for  what?  To  stand  here  in 
this  mean  chamber  and  proffer  my  favor,  only  to  tiud  it  repulsed, 
disdained.     I  am  tired  of  it — tired ! '' 

"  You  can't  be  more  tired  of  it  than  I  am!"  he  said. 

"1  ask  myself,"  she  went  on,  "why,  having  through  your 
means,  ascended  once  more  to  the  earth,  which  I  left  so  fair,  I  seek 
not  those.things  which  once  delighted  me.  This  city  of  yours — 
all  that  I  have  seen  of  it — revolts  me;  but  it  is  vast,  vaster  than 
those  built  \iy  the  mortals  of  old.  Surely  somewhere  tiiere  must  be 
brightness  in  it  and  beauty,  and  the  color  and  harmony  by  wliich 
men  knew  once  to  delight  the  gods  themselves;  it  can  not  be  that 
the  gods  of  old  are  all  forgoUen;  surely,  somewhere  tliere  yet 
lingers  a  little  band  of  faithful  ones,  who  have  not  turned  from 
Aphrodite." 

"  I  can't  say,  I'm  sure,"  said  Leander,  "  I  could  inquire  for  you." 

"I  myself  will  seek  for  them,"  she  said  proudly.  "I  will  go 
forth  this  very  night." 

Leander  choked.  "To-night!"  he  cried.  "You  can't  go  to- 
night.'* 

"  You  forget  yourself,"  she  returned  haughtily. 

"  If  I  let  you  go,"  he  said,  hesitating,  "  will  you  promise  faith- 
fully to  be  back  in  half  an  hour?" 


THE    TIKTEi)    VENUS.  6^ 

"  Do  you  not  yet  understand  that  you  have  to  do  with  a  goddess 
— with  Aphrodite  lierselfV"  she  said.  "Who  are  you,  to  presume 
to  fetter  me  bj'  your  restrictions?  Truly,  the  indulgence  I  have 
shown  has  turned  your  weak  brain," 

He  put  his  back  against  tlie  door;  he  was  afraid  of  the  goddess, 
but  he  was  still  more  afraid  of  the  burglars'  vengeance  if  they  ar- 
rived to  find  the  prize  missing! 

"  I'm  sorry  to  disoblige  a  lady,"  he  said,  "  but  you  don't  go  out 
of  this  house  to-night." 

In  another  minute  he  was  lying  in  the  fender  amongst  the  fire- 
irons— alone!  How  it  was  done  he  was  too  stunned  to  remember; 
but  the  goddess  was  gone.  If  she  did  not  return  by  midnight, 
what  would  become  of  him!  If  he  had  only  been  civil  to  her, 
she  might  have  stayed;  but  now  she  had  abandoned  him  to  certain 
destruction! 

A  kind  of  fatalistic  stupor  seized  him.  He  would  not  i-un  away 
— he  would  have  to  come  home  some  time;  nor  would  he  call  in 
the  police,  for  he  had  a  very  vivid  recollection  of  Mr.  Braddle's 
threats  in  such  a  contingency. 

He  went,  instead,  into  the  dark  saloon,  and  sat  down  in  a  chair 
to  wait.  He  wondered  how  he  could  explain  the  statue's  absence. 
If  he  told  the  burglars  it  had  gone  for  a  stroll,  they  would  tear  him 
limb  from  limb.  ""  I  was  so  confounded  artful  about  Potter,"  he 
thought  bitterly,  "  that  they'll  never  believe  now  I  haven't  warned 
him!" 

At  every  sound  outside,  he  shook  life  a  leaf;  the  quarters,  as  they 
sounded  from  the  church  clock,  sunk  like  cold  weights  into  his 
heart.  "If  only  Yenus  would  come  back  first,"  he  moaned;  but 
the  statue  never  returned. 

At  last  he  heard  steps — muflied  ones — on  the  paved  alley  outside. 
He  had  forgotten  to  leave  the  window  unfastened  after  all,  and  he 
was  too  paralyzed  to  do  it  now! 

The  steps  were  in  the  little  yard,  or  rather  a  sort  of  back  area, 
underneath  the  window.  "  It  may  be  only  a  constable,"  he  tried  to 
say  to  himself;  but  there  is  no  mistaking  the  constabulary  tread, 
which  is  not  fairy  like,  or  even  gentle,  like  that  he  heard, 

A  low  whistle  destroyed  his  last  hope.  In  a  quite  unpremedi- 
tated manner,  he  put  out  the  gas  and  rolled  under  a  leather  divan 
which  stood  at  the  end  of  the  room.  He  wished  now,  with  all  his 
heart,  that  he  had  run  away  while  he  had  the  chance — but  it  was 
too  late. 

"  I  hope  they'll  do  it  with  a  revolver,  and  not  a  knife,"  he  thought. 
"Oh.  my  poor  IMatilda!  you  little  know  what  I'm  going  through 
just  now,  and  what'll  be  going  through  me  m  another  minute!" 

A  hoarse  voice  under  the  window  called  out,  "  Tweddle!" 

He  lay  still.  "None  o' that,  yer  skulker;  I  know  5'er  there!" 
said  the  voice  again.  "  Do  yer  want  to  give  me  the  job  o'  coming 
in  after  yer?" 

After  all,  Leander  reflected,  there  was  the  window  and  a  thick 
half-shutter  between  them.  It  migiit  be  best  not  to  provoke  Mr. 
Braddle  at  the  outset.  He  came  half  out  of  his  hiding-place.  "  Is 
that  you,  Mr.  Braddle  ?"  he  quavered. 


64  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

"Ah!"  said  the  voice,  aflBrmatively;  "is  this  what  you  call 
beinon ready  for  us?    Why,  the  blooraiu'  winder  ain't  even  undone!" 

"  That's  what  I'm  here  for,"  said  poor  Leander.  "  Is  the — the 
other  gentleman  out  tliere  too?" 

"You  mind  your  business!  You'll  find  something  the  count 
give  me  to  bring  yer;  I've  put  it  on  the  window-sill  out  'ere.  And 
3'ou  obey  borders  next  lime,  will  3'er!" 

The  footsteps  were  heard  n^reating.  Mr.  Braddle  was  appar- 
ently going  back  to  fetch  his  captain.  Lcunder  let  down  the  shut- 
ter, and  opened  the  window ;  he  could  not  see,  but  he  could  feel  a 
thick,  rough  bundle  lying  on  the  window-sill. 

He  drew  this  in,  slammed  down  the  window,  and  ran  up  the 
shutter  in  a  second,  before  the  two  could  have  had  time  to  discover 
him. 

"  Now,"  he  thought,  "  I  will  run  for  it,"  and  he  groped  his  way 
out  of  the  dark  saloon  to  the  front  shop,  where  he  paused,  and, 
taking  a  match  from  his  pocket,  struck  a  light;  his  parcel  proved 
to  be  rough  sack-cloth,  on  the  outside  of  which  a  paper  was  pinned. 

Why  did  the  count  write,  when  he  was  coming  in,  directly? 
Curiosity  made  him  linger  even  then  to  ascertain  this.  The  paper 
contained  a  hasty  scrawl  in  blue  chalk:  "  Not  to-night,"  he  read; 
"  arrangements  still  incomplete.  Expect  us  to-morrow  night 
without  fail,  and  see  that  everything  is  prepared.    Cloth  sent  with 

this  for  packing  goods.     P laid  up  witli  professional  accident, 

and  safe  for  a  week  or  two.     You  must  have  known  this — why  not 
say  so  last  night?     No  trilling,  if  you  value  life!" 

It  was  a  reprieve — at  the  last  moment!  He  had  a  whole  day 
before  him  for  flight,  and  he  fully  intended  to  flee  this  time;  those 
hours  of  suspense  in  the  saloon  ^ere  too  terrible  to  be  gone  through 
twice. 

But  as  he  was  turning  out  his  cash-box,  and  about  to  go  upstairs 
and  collect  a  few  necessaries,  he  heard  a  well-known  tread  outside; 
he  ran  to  the  door,  which  he  unfastened  with  trembling  hands,  and 
the  statue,  with  the  hood  drawn  closely  round  her  strange  painted 
face,  passed  in  without  seeming  to  heed  his  presence. 

She  had  come  back  to  him.  Why  should  he  run  away  now, 
when,  if  he  waited  one  more  night,  he  might  be  rescued  from  one  of 
his  terrors  by  means  of  the  other? 

"Lady  Venus!"  he  cried,  hysterically;  "oh!  Lady  Venus, 
mum,  I  thought  you  was  gone  forever!" 

"And  you  have  grieved?"  she  said,  almost  tenderly.  "You 
welcome  my  return  with  joy!  Know  then,  Leander,  that  I  myself 
feel  pleasure  in  returning,  even  to  such  a  roof  as  this;  for  little 
gladness  have  I  had  from  my  wanderings.  Upon  no  altar  did  I  see 
my  name  shine,  nor  the  perfumed  flames  flicker;  the  Lydian  meas- 
ures were  silent,  and  tlie  praise  of  Cytherea.  And  everywhere  I 
went,  I  found  the  same  senseless  troubled  haste,  and  pale  mean  faces 
of  men,  and  squalor,  and  tumult;  grace  and  joyousness  have  fled 
— even  from  your  revelry!  But  I  have  seen  your  new  gods,  and  un- 
derstand: for,  all  grimy  and  misshapen  and  uncouth  are  they  as 
they  stand  in  your  open  places  and  at  the  corners  of  your  streets, 
Zeus,  what  a  place  must  Olympus  now  be!  And  can  any  men  wor- 
ship such  monsters,  and  be  gladsome?" 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  65 

Leander  did  not  perceive  the  very  natural  mistake  into  wiiich  the 
goddess  had  fallen ;  but  the  fact  was,  that  she  had  come  upon  some 
of  our  justly  renowned  public  statues. 

"I'm  sorry  you  haven't  enjoyed  yourself,  mum,"  was  all  he 
could  find  to  say. 

"  Should  I  linger  in  such  scenes  were  it  not  for  you?"  she  cried 
rejDroachfully.     "  How  much  longer  will  you  repulse  me?" 

"  That  depends  on  you,  mum,"  he  ventured  to  observe. 

"Ah!  )'ou  are  cold  I"  she  said  reproachfully ;  "yet  surely  I  am 
worthy  of  the  adoration  of  the  proudest  mortal.  Judge  me  not  by 
this  marble  exterior,  cunningly  wrought  though  it  be.  Charms  are 
mine,  more  dazzling  than  any  your  imagination  can  picture;  and 
could  you  surrender  your  being  to  my  hands,  I  should  be  able  to 
show  myself  as  I  really  am — supreme  in  loveliness  and  majesty!" 

Unfortunately,  the  hair-dresser's  imagination  was  not  his  strong- 
est point.  He  could  not  dissociate  the  goddess  from  the  marble 
shape  she  had  assumed,  and  that  shape  he  was  not'sufhciently  edu- 
cated to  admire;  he  merely  coughed  now  in  a  deferential  manner. 

"I  perceive  that  I  cannot  move  you,"  she  said,  "men  have 
grown  strangely  stubborn  and  impervious.  I  leave  you,  then,  to 
your  obstinacy— only  take  heed,  lest  you  provoke  me  at  last  to 
wrath;  for  my  patience  is  well-nigh  at  an  end." 

And  she  was  gone,  and  the  bedizened  statue  stood  there,  staring 
hardly  at  him  with  the  eyes  his  own  hand  had  given  her. 

"  This  has  been  the  most  trying  evening  I've  had  yet,"  he  thought. 
"  Thank  my  stars,  if  all  goes  well,  I  shall  get  rid  of  her  by  this  time 
to-morrow!" 

The  next  day  passed  uneventfully  enough,  though  the  unfortu- 
unate  Leander's  apprehensions  increased  with  every  hour;  as  before, 
he  closed  early,  got  his  apprentice  safely  off  the  premises,  and  sat 
down  to  wait  in  his  saloon.  He  knew  that  the  statue  (which  he  had 
concealed  during  the  day  behind  a  convenient  curtain)  would  prob- 
ably recover  consciousness  for  some  part  of  the  evening,  as  it  had 
rarely  failed  to  do,  and  prudence  urged  him  to  keep  an  eye  over  the 
proceedings  of  his  tormentress. 

To  his  horror,  Aphrodite's  first  words,  after  awaking,  expressed 
her  intention  of  repeating  the  search  for  homage  and  beauty,  which 
had  been  so  unsuccessful  the  night  before. 

"  Seek  not  to  detain  me,  Leander,"  she  said;  "  for,  goddess  as  I 
am,  I  am  drooping  under  this  persistent  obstinacy.  Somewhere  be- 
yond this  murky  labyrinth,  it  may  be  that  1  shall  find  a  shrine 
where  I  am  yet  honored.  I  will  go  forth,  and  never  rest  till  I  have 
found  it,  and  my  troubled  spirits  are  revived  by  the  incense  for 
which  1  have  languished  so  long.  1  am  weary  of  abasing  myself 
to  a  contemptuous  mortal,  nor  will  I  longer  endure  such  indignity. 
Stand  back,  and  opan  the  gates  forme!     Why  do  you  not  obey?" 

He  knew  now  that  to  attempt  force  would  be  useless;  and  yet  if 
she  left  him  this  time,  he  must  either  abandon  all  that  life  held  for 
him,  and  fly  to  distant  parts  from  the  burglars'  vengeance — or  re- 
main to  meet  a  too  probable  doom! 

He  fell  on  his  knees  before  her;  "  Oh,  Lady  Venus,"  he  en- 
treated, "don't  leave  me!  1  beg  and  implore  y(Mi  not  to!  If  you 
do,  you  will  kill  me!     I  give  you  my  honest  word  you  will!" 


66  THE    TINTED    YENUS. 

The  statue's  face  seemed  irradiated  by  a  sudden  joy;  she  paused, 
and  glanced  down  with  an  approving  smile  upon  the  kneeling  figure 
at  her  feet. 

"  Why  did  you  not  kneel  to  me  before?"  she  said. 

"  Because  I  never  thought  of  it,"  said  the  hair-dresser  honestl}'; 
"but  I'll  stay  on  my  knees  for  hours,  if  only  you  won't  go!" 

"But  what  lias  made  you  thus  eager,  thus  humble?"  she  said, 
half  in  wonder  and  half  in  suspicion.  "  Can  it  be  that  the  spark  I 
have  sought  to  kindle  in  your  breast  is  growing  to  a  flame  at  last? 
Leander,  can  this  thing  be?" 

He  saw  that  she  was  gratified,  that  she  desired  to  be  assured  that 
this  was  indeed  so. 

*'I  shouldn't  be  surprised  if  something  like  that  was  going  on 
inside  of  me,"  lie  said  encouragingly. 

"Answer  me  more  frankly,"  she  said.  "Do  you  wish  me  to 
remain  with  you,  because  you  have  learned  to  love  my  presence!" 

It  was  a  very  embarrassing  position  for  liim.  All  depended 
upon  his  convincing  the  goddess  of  his  dawning  love,  and  yet,  for 
the  life  of  him,  he  could  not  force  out  the  requisite  tenderness;  his 
imagination  was  unequal  to  the  task. 

Another  and  a  more  creditable  feeling  helped  to  lie  his  tongue— 
a  sense  of  shame  at  employing  such  a  subterfuge  in  order  to  betray 
the  goddess  into  tl)e  lawless  hands  of  tiiese  house-breakers.  How- 
ever, she  must  be  induced  to  stay  by  some  means. 

"  Well,"  he  said  sHeepishly,  "you  don't  give  me  a  chance  to 
love  you,  if  you  go  wandering  out  every  evening,  do  you?" 

She  gave  a  low  cry  of  triumph.  "  It  has  come!"  .she  exclaimed. 
"  What  are  clouds  of  incense,  flowers,  and  homage  to  this?  Be  of 
good  heart,  I  will  stay,  Leander.  Fear  not,  but  speak  the  passion 
which  consumes  you!" 

He  became  alarmed.  He  was  anxious  not  to  commit  himself, 
and  yet  employ  the  time  until  the  burglary  might  be  expected. 

"  Tlie  fact  is,"  he  confessed,  "  it  hasn't  gone  so  far  as  that  yet — 
it's  beginning;  all  it  wants  is  time,  you  know — time,  and  being  let 
alone." 

"  All  Time  will  be  before  us,  when  once  your  lips  have  pro- 
nounced the  words  of  surrender,  and  our  spirits  are  transported  to- 
gether to  the  enchanted  isle." 

"You  talk  about  me  going  over  to  this  isle— this  Cyprus/' he 
«aid;  "  but  it's  a  long  journey,  and  I  can't  afford  it.  l\o\\  you  come 
and  go,  I  don't  know;  but  I've  not  been  brought  up  to  it  myself.  I 
can't  tlash  across  like  a  telegram!" 

"  Trust  all  to  me,"  she  said;  "  is  not  your  love  strong  enough  for 
that?" 

"  Not  quite  yet,"  he  answered;  "  it's  coming  on.  Only,  you  see, 
it's  a  serious  step  to  take,  and  I  naturally  wish  to  feel  my  way.  I 
declare,  the  more  I  gaze  upon  the — the  elegant  form  and  tigger 
which  I  see  before  me,  tiie  stronger  and  the  more  irresistible  comes 
over  me  a  burning  desire  to  think  the  whole  thing  carefully  over. 
And  if  you  only  allowed  me  a  little  longer  to  gaze  (I've  no  time  to 
myself  except  in  the  evenings)  I  don't  think  it  would  be  long  before 
this  affair  reached  a  'appy  termination— I  don't  indeed!" 

"  Gaze,  then."  she  said",  smiling;  "  gaze  to  your  soul's  content." 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  67 

"I  mean  no  offense,"  he  represented,  having  felt  his  way  to  a 
stroke  of  supreme  cunning,  "  but  when  I  feel  there's  a  goddess  in- 
side of  this  statue,  I  don't  know  how  it  is  exactly,  but  it  puts  me 
off.  I  can't  fix  my  thoughts;  the — tiie  passion  don't  ferment  as  it 
ought.  If,  supposing  now,  you  was  to  witlulraw  yourself  and  leave 
me  the  statue?  I  could  gaze  on  it  and  think  of  thee,  and  Cyprus, 
and  all  the  rest  of  it,  more  comfortable,  so  to  speak,  than  what  I 
can  when  you're  animating  of  it,  and  making  me  that  nervous, 
words  can't  describe  it!" 

He  hardly  dared  to  hope  that  so  lame  and  transparent  a  device 
would  succeed  with  her;  but,  as  he  had  previously  found,  there 
was  a  certain  spice  of  credulity  and  simplicity  in  her  nature,  which 
made  it  possible  to  impose  upon  her,  occasionall3\ 

"  It  may  be  so,"  she  said;  "  1  overawe  thee,  perchance?" 

"Very  much  so,"  sa"d  he  promptly.  "You  don't  intend  it,  I 
know;  but  it's  a  fact," 

"  I  will  leave  you  to  meditate  upon  the  charms  so  faintly  shad- 
owed in  this  image,  remembering  that  whatever  of  loveliness  you 
find  herein  will  be  multiplied  ten-thousand-fold  in  the  actual  Aph- 
rodite I     Remain  then,  ponder  and  gaze — and  love!" 

He  waited  for  a  little  while  after  the  statue  was  silent,  and  then 
took  up  the  sacking  left  for  him  byBraddle;  twice  he  attempted 
to  throw  it  over  the  marble,  and  twice  he  recoiled.  "  It's  no  use," 
he  said,  "  I  can't  do  it;  they  must  do  it  themselves!" 

He  carefully  unfastened  the  window  at  the  back  of  his  saloon, 
and,  placing  tlie  statue  in  the  center  of  the  floor,  turned  out  the  gas, 
and  with  a  beating  heart  stole  upstairs  to  his  bedroom,  where  (with 
his  door  bolted)  he  waited  anxiously  for  the  arrival  of  his  dreaded 
deliverers. 

He  scarcely  knew  how  long  he  had  been  there,  for  a  kind  of 
waking  dream  had  come  upon  him,  in  which  he  was  providing  the 
statue  with  light  refreshment,  in  the  shape  of  fancy  pebbles  and 
liquid  cement,  when  the  long,  low  whistle,  faintly  heard  from  the 
back  of  the  house,  brought  him  back  to  his  full  senses. 

The  burglars  had  come !  He  unbolted  the  door  and  stole  out  to 
the  top  of  the  crazy  staircase,  intending  '.o  rush  back  and  bolt  him- 
self in  if  he  heard  steps  ascending;  and  for  some  minutes  he  strain- 
ed his  ears,  without  being  able  to  catch  a  sound. 

At  last  he  heard  the  muffled  creak  of  the  window,  as  it  was 
thrown  up;  they  were  coming  in!  Would  they,  or  w'ould  they  not, 
be  inhuman  enough  to  force  him  to  assist  them  in  the  removal? 

They  were  still  in  the  saloon;  he  heard  them  trampling  about, 
moving  the  furniture  with  unnecessary  violence,  and  addressing  one 
another  in  tones  that  were  not  caressing.  Now  the}'  were  carrying 
the  statue  to  the  window;  he  heard  their  laboring  breath  and  groans 
of  exertion  under  the  burden. 

Another  pause.  He  stole  lower  down  the  staircase  until  he  was 
outside  his  sitting-room,  and  could  hear  better.  There;  that  was 
the  thud  as  they  leaped  out  on  the  flagged  yard.  A  second  and 
heavier  thud — the  goddess!  How  would  they  get  her  ovur  the 
wall?  Had  they  brought  steps,  ropes,  or  what?  No  matter;  they 
knew  their  own  business,  and  were  not  likely  to  have  forgotten 


68  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

anything.  But  how  long  they  were  about  it !  Suppose  a  constable 
were  to  come  by  and  see  the  cart ! 

There  were  sounds  at  last;  they  were  scaling  the  wall — flounder- 
ing, apparently;  and  no  wonder,  with  such  a  weight  to  hoist  after 
them!  More  thuds;  and  then  the  steps  of  men  staggering  slowly, 
painfully  away.  The  steps  echoed  louder  from  under  the  archway, 
and  then  died  away  in  silence. 

Could  they  be  really  gone?  He  dared  not  hope  so,  and  remained 
shivering  in  his  sitting-room  for  some  minutes:  until  gaining  cour- 
age, he  determined  to  go  down  and  shut  the  window,  to  avoid  any 
suspicion.  Although  now  that  the  burglars  were  safely  off  with 
their  prize,  even  their  capture  could  not  implicate  him.  He  rather 
hoped  they  would  be  caught! 

He  took  a  lighted  candle  and  descended.  As  -he  entered  the 
saloon,  a  gust  from  the  open  window  blew  out  the  light.  He  stood 
there  in  the  dark  and  an  icy  draught;  and,  beginning  to  grope 
about  in  the  dark  for  the  matches,  he  brushed  against  something 
which  was  soft  and  had  a  clotii  like  texture,  "it's  Braddle!"he 
thought,  and  his  blood  ran  cold;  "or  else  the  count!"  And  he 
called  them  both  respectfully.  There  was  no  reply;  no  sound  of 
breathing,  even. 

Ha!  here  was  a  box  of  matches  at  last!  He  struck  a  light  in 
feverish  haste,  and  lit  the  nearest  gas-bracket.  For  an  instant  he 
could  see  nothing,  in  the  sudden  glare;  but  the  next  moment  he  fell 
back  against  the  wall  with  a  cry  of  honor  and  despair. 

For  there,  in  the  center  of  iiie  di>ordercd  room,  stood — not  the 
count;  not  Braddle— but  the  statue,  Ihe  mantle  thrown  back  from 
her  arms;  and  those  arms,  and  the  folds  of  tlie  marble  drapery, 
spotted  here  and  there  with  stains  of  dark  crimson! 


CHAPTER  X. 

DAMOCLES  DINES  OUT. 

To  feed  were  best  at  home. 

Macbeth. 

As  soon  as  Leander  had  recovered  from  the  first  shock  of  horror 
and  disappointment,  he  set  himself  to  efface  the  stains  with  which 
the  statue  and  the  oil  cloth  were  liberally  bespattered;  he  was  burn- 
ing to  find  out  what  had  liappened  to  make  such  desperadoes  aban- 
don their  designs  at  the  point  of  completion. 

They  both  seemed  to  have  bled  freely.  Had  they  quarreled,  or 
what?  He  went  out  into  the  yard  with  a  hand-lamp,  trembling  lest 
he  should  come  upon  one  or  more  corpses;  but  the  place  was  bare, 
and  he  then  remembered  having  heard  them  stumble  and  flounder 
over  the  wall. 

He  came  back  in  utter  bewilderment;  the  statue,  standing  calm 
and  lifeless  as  he  had  himself  placed  it,  could  tell  him  nothing,  and 
he  went  back  to  his  bedroom  full  of  the  vaguest  fears. 

The  next  day  was  a  Saturday,  and  he  passed  it  in  the  state  of  con- 
tinual apprehension  which  was  becoming  his  normal  condition;  lie 
expected  every  moment  to  see  or  hear  from  the  baffled  ruffians,  who 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  69 

would,  no  doubt,  consider  him  responsible  for  their  failure;  but  no 
word  or  siirn  came  from  them,  and  the  uncertainty  drove  him  very 
near  distraction. 

As  the  night  approached,  he  almost  welcomed  it,  as  a  time  when 
the  goddess  herself  would  enlighten  part  of  his  ignorance,  and  he 
waited  more  impatiently  than  ever  for  her  return. 

fie  was  made  to  wait  long  that  evening,  until  he  almost  began  to 
think  the  marble  was  deserted  altogether;  but  at  length,  as  he 
watched,  the  statue  gave  a  long  shuddering  sigh,  and  seemed  to 
gaze  round  the  saloon  with  vacant  eyes. 

"Where  am  I,"  she  murmured.  "Ah!  I  remember;  Leander, 
while  you  slumbered,  impious  hands  were  laid  upon  this  image!" 

"  Dear  me,  mum;  you  don't  say  so!"  exclaimed  Leander. 

"  It  is  the  trutli!  From  afar  I  felt  the  indignity  that  was  pur- 
posed, and  hastened  to  protect  my  image,  to  tind  it  in  the  coarse 
grusp  of  godless  outlaws.  Leander,  they  were  about  to  drag  me 
away  by  force— away  from  thee!" 

"  I  am  very  sorry  you  should  have  been  disturbed,"  said  Leander; 
and  he  certainly  was.  "  So  you  came  back  and  caught  tlicm  at  it, 
did  you?     And  wh — what  did  you  do  to  'em.  if  I  may  inquire?  " 

"Iknow  not,"  she  said  simply.  "I  caused  them  to  be  tilled 
with  mad  fur}^  and  they  fell  upon  one  another  blindly,  and  fought 
like  wild  beasts  around  my  image  until  strength  failed  them,  and 
they  sunk  to  the  ground;  and  when  they  were  able  they  tied  from 
my  presence,  and  I  saw  them  no  more." 

"You — you  didn't  kill  them  outright  then?  "said  Leander,  not 
feeling  quite  sure  whether  he  w  ould  be  glad  or  not  to  hear  that 
they  had  forfeited  their  lives. 

"They  w^ere  unworthy  of  such  a  death,"  she  said,  "  so  I  let  them 
crawl  away;  henceforth  they  will  respect  our  images." 

"  I  should  say  they  would  most  likely,  madam,"  agreed  Leander. 
"1  do  assure  you,  Im  almost  glad  of  it  myself— I  am;  it  served 
them  both  right." 

"  Almost  glad!  And  do  you  not  rejoice  from  your  heart  that  I 
yet  remain  to  you." 

"  Why,"  said  Leander,  "  it  is,  in  course,  a  most  satisfactory  and 
agreeable  termination,  I'm  sure." 

"  Who  knows  whether,  if  this  my  image  had  once  been  removed 
from  you,  I  could  have  found  it  in  my  pcnver  to  return?"  she  said; 
"  for,*^I  ween,  the  power  that  is  left  me  has  limits.  I  might  never 
have  appeared  to  you  again.     Think  of  it,  Leander." 

"  I  was  thinking  of  it,"  he  replied;  "  it  quite  upsets  me  to  think 
how  near  it  was."" 

"  You  are  moved;  you  love  me  well,  do  you  not,  Leander?" 

"Oh!  I  suppose  I  do,"  he  said;   "  well  enough." 

"Well  enough  to  abandon  this  gross  existence,  and  fly  with  me 
where  none  can  separate  us?" 

"  I  never  said  nothing  about  that,"  he  answered. 

*'But  yesternight  and  you  confessed  tliat  you  were  yielding  — 
that  ere  long  I  should  prevail." 

"So  lam,"  he  said;  "but  it  will  take  me  some  time  to  yield 
thoroughly.  You  wouldn't  believe  how  slow  I  yield;  why,  I 
haven't  hardly  begun  yet!" 


70  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

"  And  hou'  long  a  time  will  pass  before  you  are  fully  prepared?" 

"  I'm  afraid  1  can't  say,  not  exactly;  it  may  be  a  month,  or  it 
might  only  be  a  week;  or,  again,  it  may  be  a  year.  I'm  so  depend- 
ent upon  the  weather.  So.  if  you're  in  any  kind  of  a  hurry,  I 
couldn't  advise  you,  as  a  honest  man,  to  w;iil  for  me," 

"  I  will  not  wait  a  year!"  she  s:ii(l  fiercely;  "you  mock  me  with 
such  words.  I  tell  you  again  tliat  my  foibearance  will  last  but 
little  longer.  More  of  this  laggard  love,  and  I  will  shame  you  be- 
fore your  fellow-men  as  an  ingrate  and  a  dasStardl  I  will;  by  my 
zone,  1  will!" 

"  Now,  ma'am,  you're  allowing  yourself  to  get  excited,"  said 
Leander,  soothingly.  "  I  wouldn't  talk  about  it  no  more  tliis 
evening;  we  shall  do  no  good.  I  can't  arrange  to  go  with  you  just 
yet,  and  there's  an  em\  of  il." 

"You  will  find  that  that  is  not  the  end  of  it,  clod-witted  slave 
that  you  are!" 

"  Now,  don't  call  names — it's  beneath  you." 

"  Ay,  indeed!  for  are  not  you  beneath  me?  But  for  very  shame 
I  will  not  abandon  what  is  justly  mine;  nor  shall  you,  wily  and 
persuasive  hair-dresser  though  you  be,  withstand  my  sovereign  will 
with  impunity!" 

•'So  say  you,  mum!"  said  Leander,  with  a  touch  of  his  native 
impertinence. 

"  As  1  say,  I  shall  act;  but  no  more  of  this,  or  you  will  anger 
me,  before  the  time.     Let  me  depart!" 

"  I'm  not  hindering  you,"  he  said;  but  she  did  not  remain  long 
enough  to  resent  his  words.  He  snt  down  with  a  groau.  "  What- 
ever will  become  of  me!"  he  soliloquized  dismally.  "She  gets 
more  pressing  every  evening,  and  she's  been  taking  to  threatening 
dreadful  of  late.  If  the  count  and  that  Braddle  ever  come  back 
now,  it  won't  be  to  take  her  off  my  hands;  it'll  more  likely  be 
to  have  my  life  for  letting  them  into  such  a  trap;  they'll  think  it 
was  some  trick  of  mine.  I  shouldn't  wonder.  And  to  morrow's 
Sunday,  and  I've  got  to  dine  with  aunt,  and  meet  INIaiilda  and  her 
ma.  A  pretty  state  of  mmd  I'm  in  for  going  out  to  dinner,  after 
the  awful  week  I've  had  of  it!  But  there'll  be  some  comfort  in 
seeing  my  darling  Tillie  again:  she  ain't  a  statue,  bless  her!" 

"  As  for  you,  mum,"  he  said  to  the  unconscious  statue,  as  he  rose 
and  painfully  toiled  upstairs  with  it,  "  I'm  going  to  lock  you  up  in 
your  old  quarters,  where  yon  can't  get  out  and  do  mischief.  I  do 
think  I'm  entitled  to  have  my  Sunday  (juict." 

He  slept  long  and  late  that  Sunday  morning;  for  he  had  been  too 
preoccupied  for  the  last  few  days  to  make  any  anangements  for 
attending  chapel  with  his  Matilda,  and  he  was  in  sore  need  of  re- 
pose besides.  So  he  rose  just  in  time  to  swallow  his  coffee  and 
arra}'  himself  carefully  for  his  aunt's  early  dinner,  leaving  his  two 
Sundav  papers,  the  theatrical  and  the  general  organs,  unread  on  the 
table.  ■ 

It  was  a  {ogs:j,  dull  day,  and  Millman  Street,  never  a  cheerful 
thoroughfare, "looked  gloomier  than  ever  as  he  turned  into  it.  But 
one  of  Ihose  dingy  fronts  held  Matilda,  a  circumstance  which  irradi- 
ated the  entire  district  for  him. 

He  had  scarcely  time  to  knock  before  the  door  was  opened  by 


THE    TINTED    TENUS.  71 

^Tatilfla  in  person.  Slie  looked  more  charmina:  than  ever,  in  a  neat 
(lark  dress,  with  a  little  while  collar  and  cuffs.  Her  hair  was  ar- 
ranged in  u  new  fashion,  being  banded  b}-  a  neat  braided  tress  across 
the  crown;  and  her  gray  eyes,  usuall}^  serene  and  cold,  were  bright 
and  eager. 

The  hair-dresser  felt  his  heart  swell  with  love  at  the  sight  of  lier. 
Wi:at  a  lucky  man  he  was,  after  all,  to  have  such  a  girl  as  this  to 
care  for  him — if  he  could  keep  her — ah!  if  he  could  only  keep  her! 

"  1  told  your  aunt  1  was  going  to  open  the  door  to  you,"  she  said. 
"  I  wanted — oh,  Leander,  you've  not  brought  it,  after  all!" 

"  Meaning  what,  Tillie,  mv  darling?"  said  Leander. 

"  Oh,  you  know — my  cloak!" 

He  had  had  so  much  to  think  about  that  he  had  really  forgotten 
the  cloak  of  late. 

"  Well,  no,  I've  not  brought  that — not  the  cloak,  Tillie,"  he  said, 
slowly. 

"  What  a  time  they  are  about  it! "complained  Matilda. 

*'  You  see,"  exclaimed  the  poor  man,  "  when  a  cloak  like  that  is 
damaged,  it  has  to  be  sent  back  to  the  manufacturers  to  be  done, 
and  they've  so  many  things  on  their  hands.  1  couldn't  promivse  that 
you'll  have  that  cloak — well  not  this  side  of  Christmas,  at  least." 

"You  must  have  been  very  rough  with  it,  then,  Leander,"  she  re- 
marked. 

"I  was,"  he  said;  "I  don't  know  how^  I  came  to  be  so  rough. 
You  see  it  was  trying  to  tear  it  off — "     But  here  he  stopped. 

"  Trying  to  tear  it  off  what?" 

"  Trying  to  tear  it  off  nolhink,  but  trying  to  tear  the  wrapper  off 
it:  it  was  so  involved,"  he  added,  "with  siring  and  paper  and  that; 
and  I'm  a  clumsy,  unlucky  sort  of  chap,  sweet  one;  and  I'm  un- 
common sorry  about  it,  that  I  am!" 

"  Well,  we  won't  say  any  more  about  it,"  said  Matilda,  softened 
by  his  contrition:  "  and  I'm  keeping  you  out  in  the  passage  all  this 
lime.  Come  in  and  be  introduced  1o  mamma;  she's  in  the  front 
parlor,  waiting  to  make  your  acquaintance." 

Mrs.  Collum  was  a  stout  lady,  with  a  thin  voice.  She  struck  a 
nameless  fear  into  Leander's  soul,  as  he  was  led  up  to  where  she 
sat.  He  thought  that  she  contained  all  tlie  promise  of  a  very  terri- 
ble mother-in-law. 

"This  is  Leander,  mamma  dear,"  said  Matilda,  shyly  and  yet 
proudly. 

Her  mother  inspected  him  for  a  moment,  and  then  half-closed 
her  eyes.  "  My  daughter  tells  me  that  you  carr}^  on  the  occupation 
of  a  hair  dresser,"  she  said. 

"  Quite  coirect,  madam,"  said  Leander;   "  I  do." 

"Ah!  well."  she  said,  with  an  unconcealed  sigh,  "  I  could  have 
wished  lo  look  higher  than  hair-dressing  iov  my  Matilda;  but  there 
are  opportunities  of  doing  good,  even  as  a  hair-dresser.  I  trust  you 
are  sensible  of  that." 

"  I  try  to  do  as  little  'arm  as  I  can,"  lie  said  feebly. 

"  If  you  do  not  do  good,  you  must  do  harm."  she  said,  uncom- 
promisingly. "  You  have  it  in  your  means  to  be  an  awakening  in- 
fluence,    ^fo  one  knows  the  power  that  a  single  serious  hair  dresser 


72  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

might  effect  with  worldly  customers.     Have  you  never  thought  of 
that?" 

"Well,  I  can't  say  I  have  exactly,"  he  said;  "and  I  don't  see 
how." 

"  There  are  cheap  and  appropriate  illuminated  texts,"  she  said, 
"to  be  had  at  so  much  a  dozen;  you  could  banjr  them  on  your 
walls.  There  are  tracts  you  procure  by  the  hundred;  you  could 
put  them  in  the  lining  of  bats  as  you  hang  them  up;  you  could 
wrap  them  round  your — your  bottles  and  pomatum-pots.  You 
could  drop  a  -^ord  in  season  in  your  customer's  ear  as  you  bent 
over  him.  And  you  tell  me  you  don't  see  how:  you  wilt  not  see, 
I  fear,  Mr.  Tweddle." 

"I'm  afraid,  mum,"  lie  replied,  "my  customers  would  consider 
I  was  taking  liberties. " 

"  And  wiiat  of  that,  so  long  as  you  save  them?" 

"Well,  you  see,  1  shouldn't— I  should  lose 'em]  And  it's  not 
done  in  our  profession ;  and.  to  tell  you  the  honest  truth,  I'm  not 
given  that  way  myself— not  to  the  extent  of  tracks  and  such  like, 
that  is." 

Matilda's  mother  groaned;  it  was  hard  to  find  a  son  in-law  with 
whom  she  had  nothing  in  common,  and  who  was  a  hair  dresser  into 
the  bargain. 

"  Well,  well,"  .said  she,  "we  must  expect  crosses  in  this  life; 
though  for  my  own  daughter  to  lay  this  one  upon  me  is — is — but  I 
will  not  repine." 

"  I'm  sorry  you  regard  me  in  the  light  of  a  cross,"  said  Leander; 
"but,  whether  I'm  a  cross  or  a  naught,  I'm  a  respectable  man; 
and  I  love  your  daughter,  mam,  and  I'm  in  a  position  to  maintain 
her," 

Leander  hated  to  have  to  appear  under  false  pretenses,  of  which 
he  had  had  more  than  enongh  of  late.  He  was  glad  now  to  speak 
out  plainly,  particularly  as  he  had  no  reason  to  fear  this  old  woman. 

"Hush,  Leander!  Mamma  didn't  mean  to  be  unkind;  did  you, 
mamma?  "  said  Matilda. 

"  I  said  what  I  felt,"  she  said ;  "  we  will  not  discuss  it  further.  If, 
in  time,  I  see  reason  for  bestowing  my  blessing  upon  a  choice,  which 
at  present — but,  no  matter.  If  I  see  reason  in  time,  I  will  not  with- 
hold it.     I  can  hardly  be  expected  to  approve  at  pnisent." 

"  You  shall  take  your  own  time,  mum,  J  won't  hurry  you,"  said 
Leander.  "  Tillie  is  blessing  enough  for  me — not  but  what  t  shall 
be  glad  to  be  on  a  pleasant  footing  with  you,  I'm  sure,  if  you  can 
bring  yourself  to  it." 

Before  Mrs.  Collura  could  reply.  Miss  Louisa  Tweddle  made  an 
opportune  appearance,  to  the  relief  of  Matilda,  in  whom  her  mother's 
attitude  was  causing  some  uneasiness. 

Miss  Tweddle  was  a  well-preserved  little  woman,  with  short 
curly  iron-gray  hair  and  sharp  features.  In  manner  she  was  brisk, 
not  to  say  chirpy,  but  she  secreted  sentiment  in  large  quantities.  She 
was  very  far  from  the  traditional  landlady,  and  where  she  lost  lodg- 
ers occasionally,  she  retained  friends.  She  regarded  Mrs.  Collum 
with  something  like  reverence,  as  an  acquaintance  of  her  youth  who 
had  always  occupied  a  superior  social  position,  and  she  was  proud, 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  73 

though  somewhat  guiltily  so,  that  her  favorite  nephew  should  have 
succeeded  in  captivating  ihe  (laughter  of  a  dentist. 

She  kissed  Leander  on  both  cheeks.  "  He's  done  the  best  of  all 
my  nephews,  Mrs.  Collum,  ma'am,"  she  explained,  "and  he's  never 
caused  me  a  moment's  anxiety  since  1  tirst  had  the  care  of  him, 
when  he  was  first  apprenticed  to  Catchpole's  in  Holborn,  and  paid 
me  for  his  board." 

"Well,  well,"  said  Mrs.  Collum,  "  I  hope  he  never  may  cause 
anxiety  to  you  or  to  any  one." 

"  I'll  answer  for  it,  he  won't,"  said  his  aunt.  "  I  wish  you  could 
see  him  dress  a  head  of  hair." 

Mrs.  Collum  shut  her  eyes  again.  "  If  at  his  age  he  has  not  ac- 
quired the  necessary  skill  for  his  line  in  life,"  she  observed,  "  it 
would  be  a  very  melancholy  thing  to  reflect  upon." 

"Yes,  wouldn't  it?"  agreed  Miss  Tweddle;  "you  say  very  truly, 
Mrs.  Collum.  But  he's  got  ideas  and  notions  beyond  what  you'd 
expect  in  a  hair-dresser — haven't  you,  Leaudy?  Tell  Miss  Collum's 
dear  ma  about  the  new  machines  you've  invented  for  altering  peo- 
ple's hands  and  eyes  and  features." 

"  I  don't  care  to  be  told,"  the  lady  struck  in.  "  To  my  mind,  it's 
nothing  less  than  sheer  impiety  to  go  improving  the  features  we've 
been  endowed  with.  We  ought  to  be  content  as  we  are,  and  be 
thankful  we've  been  sent  into  thy  world  with  any  features  at  all. 
Those  are  my  opinions!" 

"Ah!"  said  the  politic  Leander,  "but  some  people  are  saved 
having  resort  to  Art  for  improvement,  and  we  oughtn't  to  blame 
them  as  are  less  favored  for  trying  to  render  themselves  more  agree- 
able as  spectacles,  ought  we?" 

"  And  if  every  one  thought  with  you,"  added  his  aunt,  with  dis- 
tinctly inferior  tact,  "where  would  your  poor  dear  'usband  have 
been,  Mrs.  Collum,  ma'am?" 

"  My  dear  husband  w^as  not  on  the  same  level — he  was  a  medical 
man;  and,  besides,  though  he  replaced  Nature  in  one  of  her  depart- 
ments, he  had  too  much  principle  to  imitate  her.  Had  he  been  (or 
had  I  allowed  him  to  be)  less  conscientious,  his  practice  would  have 
been  largely  extended;  but  I  can  truthiully  declare  that  not  a  single 
one  of  his  false  teeth  was  capable  of  deceiving  for  an  instant.  I 
)iope,"  she  added  to  Leander,  "  you,  in  your  own  different  way  are 
as  scrupulous." 

"  Why,  the  fact  is,"  said  Leander,  w^hose  professional  suscepti- 
bilities were  now  aroused,  "1  am  essentially  an  artist.  When  I  look 
around  I  see  that  Nature,  out  of  its  bounty,  has  supplied  me  with  a 
choice  selection  of  patterns  to  follow,  and  I  reproduce  them  as  faith- 
ful as  lies  within  my  abilities.  You  may  call  it  a  tine  thing  to  take 
a  blank  canvas,  and  represent  the  luxurious  tresses  and  t!ie  bloom- 
ing hue  of  'ealth  upon  it,  and  so  do  I;  but  1  call  it  a  slill  higher  and 
nobler  act  to  produce  a  sunilar  effect  upon  the  human  cd!" 

"Isn't  that  a  pretty  speech  for  a  young  man  like  him — only 
twenty-seven— Mrs.  Collum!"  exclaimed  his  admiring  aunt. 

"  You  see.  mamma  dear,"  pleaded  ^Matilda,  who  saw  that  her 
parent  remained  unaffected,  "it  isn't  as  if  Leander  was  in  poor 
papa's  profession." 

"  1  hope,  Matilda,"  said  the  lady,  sharply,  "  you  are  not  going  to 


74  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

pain  me  again  by  mentioning  this  young  man  and  your  departed 
father  in  the  same  breath,  beaiuse  I  can  not  bear  it." 

"  The  old  lady,"  commented  Leander  here,  "  don't  seem  to  take 
to  me!" 

"I'm  sure,"  said  Miss  Tweddle,  "Leandy  quite  feels  what  an 
honor  ii  is  to  him  to  look  forward  to  such  a  connection  as  yours  is. 
When  I  first  heard  of  it,  I  said  at  once,  'Leandy,  you  can't  never 
mean  it;  she  won't  look  at  you;  it's  no  use  you  asking  her,'  I  said. 
And  I  quite  scolded  myself  for  ever  bringing  them  together!" 

Mrs.  Colluni  seemed  inchned  to  follow  suit,  but  she  restrained 
herself.  "Ah!  well,"  she  observed,  "  my  daughter  has  chosen  to 
take  her  own  way,  without  consulting  my  prejudices:  all  1  hope  is, 
that  she  may  never  repent  it!" 

"  Very  handsomely  said,  ma'am."  chimed  in  Miss  Tweddle;  "  and 
if  I  know  my  nephew,  repent  it  she  never  will!" 

Leander  was  looking  rather  miserable;  but  Matilda  put  out  her 
hand  to  him  behind  his  aunts  back,  and  their  eyes  and  hands  met, 
and  he  was  liappy  again. 

"  You  must  l)e' wanting  your  dinner,  Mrs.  Collum,"  his  aunt  pro- 
ceeded; "  and  w«  are  only  waiting  for  another  lady  and  gentleman 
to  make  up  the  party.  I  don't  know  what's  made  Ihem  so  i)ehind- 
hand,  I'm  sure.  He's  a  very  pleasant  young  man,  and  punctual  to 
the  second  when  he  lodged  with  me.  I  ii:ipi»ened  to  run  across  him 
up  by  Chancery  Lane  the  other  evening,  and  he*  said  to  me,  in  liis 
funny  way,  'I've  been  and  gone  and  done  it,  Miss  Tweddle,  since 
I  saw  you.  I'm  a  happy  man;  and  I'm  thinking  of  bringing  m}-- 
young  lady  soon  to  introduce  to  you.'  So  I  asked  them  lo  come 
and  take  a  bit  of  dinner  with  me  to-day,  and  I  told  him  two  o'clock 
sharp,  I'm  sure.  Ah!  there  they  are  at  last.  Thai's  Mr.  Jauncy's 
knock,  among  a  thousand!" 

Leander  started.  "  Aunt!"  he  cried,  *' you  haven't  asked  Jauncy 
here  to-day?" 

"  Yes,  I  did,  Leandy.  I  knew  you  used  to  be  friends  when  you 
were  together  here,  and  I  thought  how  nice  it  would  be  for  both 
your  young  ladies  to  make  each  other's  acquaintance;  but  I  didn't 
tell  him  anything.     I  meant  it  for  a  surprise!" 

And  she  bustled  out  to  receive  her  guests,  leaving  Leander 
speechless.  What  if  the  new-comers  were  to  make  some  incautious 
reference  to  that  pleasure  party  on  Saturday  week?  Could  he  drop 
them  a  warning  hint? 

"  Don't  you  hke  this  Mr.  Jauncy,  Leander?"  whispered  Matilda, 
who  had  observed  his  ghastly  expresssion. 

"I  like  him  well  enough,"  he  returned,  with  an  effort;  "but  Id 
rather  we  had  no  third  parties,  I  must  say." 

Here  Mr.  Jauncy  came  in  alone.  Miss  Tweddle  having  retired  to 
assist  the  lady  to  take  off  her  bonnet. 

Leander  went  to  meet  him.  "James,"  he  said  in  an  agitated 
■whisper,  "  have  you  brought  Bella?" 

Jauncy  nodded.  "  We  were  talking  of  }'0U  as  we  came  along," 
lie  said  in  the  same  tone,  "and  I  advise  you  to  look  out — she's  got 
her  quills  up,  old  chap." 

"  What  about  ?"  murmured  Leander. 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  75 

Mr.  .Tauncy's  grin  was  wider  and  more  appreciative  tlian  ever  as 
he  replied,  niysleriously,  "  Rosljerwicli!" 

Leander  would  iiave' liked  to  ask  in  what  respect  Miss  Parkinson 
considered  lierself  injured  by  the  expedition  to  Roslierwich-  but, 
before  he  could  do  so,  his  aunt  returned  with  the  young  lady  in 
question. 

Bella  was  gorgeously  dressed,  and  made  her  entrance  with  the 
stiffest  possible  dignity.  "  Miss  Parkmson,  my  dear,"  said  her  host- 
ess, "  you  mustn't  be  made  a  stranger  of.  That  lady  sitting  there 
on  the  sofa  is  Mrs.  CoiJum,  and  this  gentleman  is  a  friend  of  your 
gentleman's,  and  my  nephew,  Leandy." 

"  Oh,  thank  you,"  said  Bella,  "but  I'v3  no  occasion  to  be  told 
Mr.  Tweddle's  name;  we  have  met  before — haven't  we,  Mr.  Twed- 
die?" 

He  looked  at  her,  and  saw  lier  brows  clouded,  and  her  nose  and 
mouth  with  a  pinched  look  about  them.  She  was  annoyed  with 
him  evidently— but  why? 

"  We  have,"  was  all  he  could  reply. 

"  Why,  how  nice  that  is,  to  be  sure!"  exclaimed  his  aunt.  "  I 
might  have  thought  of  it,  too,  Mr.  Jauncy,  and  you  being  such 
friends  and  all.  And  p'r'aps  you  know  this  lady,  too — Miss  Collum 
— as  Leandy  is  keeping  company  along  with?" 

Bella's  expression  changed  to  something  blacker  still.  "No," 
she  said,  tixing  her  eyes  on  the  still  unconscious  Leander.  "  1  made 
sure  that  Mr.  Tweddle  was  courting  a  young  lady,  but — but — well, 
this  is  a  surprise,  Mr.  Tweddle !  You  never  told  us  of  this  when 
last  we  met.     I  shall  have  news  for  somebody!" 

"Oh,  but  it's  only  been  arranged  within  the  last  month  or  two!" 
said  Miss  Tweddle! 

"  Considering  we  met  so  lately,  he  might  have  done  us  the  com- 
pliment of  mentioning  it,  I  must  say!"  said  Bella. 

"I — I  thought  you  knew,"  stammered  the  hair  dresser;  "I 
told—" 

"  No,  you  didn't,  excuse  me;  oh,  no,  you  didn't,  or  some  things 
would  have  happened  differently!  It  was  the  place  and  all  that 
made  you  forget  it,  verj^  likely!" 

"  When  did  you  meet  one  another,  and  where  was  it,  Miss 
Parkinson?"  inquired  Matilda,  rather  to  include  herself  in  the  con- 
versation than  from  any  devouring  curiosity. 

Leander  struck  in  hoarsely.  "  We  met,"  he  explained,  "some 
time  since,  quite  casual." 

Bella's  eyes  lit  up  with  triumphant  malice.  "What!"  she  said, 
"  do  you  call  yesterday  week  such  a  long  while?  What  a  compli- 
ment that  is,  though!  And  so  he's  not  even  mentioned  it  to  you, 
Miss  Collum?  Dear  me,  I  wonder  what  reasons  he  had  for  that, 
now!" 

"There's  nothing  to  wonder  at,"  said  Leander;  "my  memory 
does  play  me  tricks  of  that  sort." 

"  Ah !'  if  it  was  only  you  it  played  tricks  on !  There's  Miss  Col- 
lum dying  to  know  what  it's  all  about,  1  can  see!" 

"  Indeed,  Miss  Parkinson,  I'm  nothing  of  the  sort,"  retorted  Ma- 
tilda proudly.     Privately  her  reflection  was:   "She's  got  a  lovely 


76  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

gown  on,  but  she's  a  common  girl,  for  all  that;  and  she's  trying  to 
set  me  against  Leander  for  some  reason,  and  she  sha'n't  do  it !" 

"  Well,"  said  Bella,  "you're  a  fortunate  man,  Mr.  Tweddle,  that 
you  are,  in  every  way.  I'm  afraid  I  shouldn't  be  so  easy  wjth  my 
James." 

"There's  no  need  for  being  afraid  about  it,"  her  James  put  in; 
"you  aren't!" 

'"  I  hope  1  haven't  as  much  cause,  though,"  she  retorted. 

Leander  listened  to  her  malicious  innuendo  with  a  bewildered 
agony.  Why  on  earth  was  she  making  this  dead  set  at  him?  She 
was  amiable  enough  on  Saturday  week.  It  never  occurred  to  him 
that  his  conduct  to  her  sister  could  account  for  it,  for  had  he  not 
told  Ada  straightforwardly  how  he  was  situated? 

Fortunatel}^  dinner  was  announced  to  be  ready  just  then,  and 
Bella  was  silenced  for  the  moment  in  the  general  movement  to  the 
next  room. 

Leander  took  in  Matilda's  mamma,  who  had  been  studiously  ab- 
stracting herself  from  all  surrounding  objects  for  the  last  few  min- 
utes. "  That  Bella  is  a  downright  basilisk,"  he  thought  dismally  as 
he  led  the  way.     "  Lord,  how  I  do  wish  dinner  was  done  1" 


CHAPTER  XL 

DENOUNCED. 

"  There's  a  new  foot  on  the  floor,  my  friend; 
And  a  new  face  at  the  door,  my  friend; 
A  new  face  at  the  door." 

Leander  sat  at  the  head  of  the  table  as  carver,  having  Mrs. 
Collum  and  Bella  on  his  left,  and  James  and  Matilda  opposite  to 
them. 

James  was  the  first  to  o])en  conversation,  b}'  the  remark  to  Mrs. 
Collum,  across  the  table,  that  they  were  "  having  another  dull  Sun- 
day." 

"  Tliat,"  rejoined  the  uncompromising  lady,  "seems  to  me  a 
highly  improper  remark,  sir." 

"My  friend  Jauncy,"  explained  Leander,  in  defense  of  his 
abashed  companion.  "  was  not  alluding  to  present  company,  I'm 
sure.     He  meant  the  dullness  outside — the  fog,  and  so  on." 

"I  knew  it,"  she  said;  "and  I  repeat  that  it  is  improper  and 
irreverent  to  speak  of  a  dull  Sunday  in  that  tone  of  complaint. 
Haven't  we  all  the  week  to  be  lively  in?" 

"  And  I'm  sure,  ma'am,"  said  Jauncy,  recovering  himself,  "  you 
make  the  most  of  your  time.  Talking  of  fog,  Tweddle,  did  you  see 
those  lines  on  it  in  to-day's  '  Umpire'?  Very  smart,  I  call  them; 
regular  witty." 

"And  do  you  both  read  a  paper  on  Sunday  mornings  with 
'smart'  and  'witty'  lines  in  it?"  demanded  Mrs.  Collum. 

"  I — I  hadn't  time  this  morning,"  said  the  unregenerate  Leander; 
"  but  I  do  occasionally  cast  a  eye  over  it  before  Iget  up." 

Mrs.  Collum  groaned  and  looked  at  her  daughter  reproachfully. 

"I  see  by  the  'Weekly  News,' "said  Jauncy,  "you've  iiad  a 
burglary  in  your  neighborhood." 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  77 

Lt'auder  let  the  carving-knife  slip.  "A  burglary?  What!  in  my 
neig'.iborhood?     When?" 

"  V.^ell,  p'r'aps  not  a  burglary;  but  a  capture  of  two  that  were 
'  wante<^l '  for  it.     It's  all  in  to-day's  '  News.'  " 

"  I — i  haven't  seen  a  paper  for  the  last  two  days,"  said  Leander, 
his  heart  bleating  with  hope;  "  tell  us  about  it," 

"  Why,  k  isn't  much  to  tell;  but  it  seems  that  last  Friday  night, 
or  early  on  Saturday  morning,  the  constable  on  duty  came  upon  two 
suspicious-looking  chaps,  propped  up  insensible  against  the  railingg 
in  Queen  Square,  covered  with  blood  and  unable  to  account  for 
themselves.  Whether  they'd  been  trying  to  break  in  somewhere 
and  been  beaten  (.ff,  or  had  quarreled,"^or  met  with  some  accident, 
doesn't  seem  to  be  known  for  certain.  But.  an}'  way,  they  were  ar- 
rested for  loitering  at  night  with  house-breaking  things  about  them, 
and,  when  the}'  were  got  to  the  station,  recognized  as  the  men 
•  wanted'  for  shooting  a  policeman  down  at  Walham  Green  some 
time  back,  and  if  it  is  proved  against  them,  they'll  be  hung,  for 
certain," 

"  What  are  they  called?    Did  it  say?"  asked  Leander,  eagerly. 
"  I  forget  one — something  like  Bradawl,  I  believe;  the  other  had 
a  lot  of  abases,  but  he  was  best  known  as  the  '  Count,'  from  having 
lived  a  good  deal  abroad,  and  speaking  broken  English  like  a 
native." 

Leander's  spirits  rose,  in  spite  of  his  present  anxieties.  He  had 
been  going  in  fear  and  dread  of  the  revenge  of  these  rufhans,  and 
they  were  safely  locked  up;  they  could  trouble  him  no  more! 

Small  wonder,  then,  that  his  security  in  this  respect  made  him 
better  able  to  cope  with  minor  dangers;  and  Bella's  animosity 
seemed  lulled,  too — at  least,  she  had  not  opened  her  mouth,  except 
for  food,  since  she  sat  down. 

In  his  expansion,  he  gave  himself  the  airs  of  a  host.  "  I  hope," 
he  said,  "  I've  served  you  all  to  your  likings?  Mirfs  Parkinson, 
you're  not  getting  on;  allow  me  to  offer  you  a  little  more  pork?" 

"Thank  you,  Mr.  Tweddle,"  said  the  implacable  Belhi,  "but  I 
won't  trouble  you.  I  haven't  an  appetite  to-day — like  I  had  at  those 
gardens!" 

There  was  a  challenge  in  this  answer— not  only  to  him,  but  to 
general  curiosity — which,  to  her  evident  disappointment,  was  not 
taken  up. 

Leander  turned  to  Jauncy.  "  I — I  suppose  you  had  no  trouble 
in  finding  your  way  here?"  he  said. 

"Ko,"  said  Jauncy,  "not  more  than  usual;  the  streets  were 
pretty  full,  and  that  makes  it  harder  to  get  along." 

"  We  met  such  quantities  of  soldiers!"  put  in  Bella.  "  Do  you 
remember  those  two  soldiers  at  Roslierwich,  ^Ir.  Tweddle?  IIow 
funny  they  did  look,  dancing;  didn't  they?  But  I  suppose  I 
mustn't  say  anything  about  the  dancing  here,  must  I?" 

"Since,"  said  the  poor  badgered  man,  "you  put  it  to  me.  Miss 
Parkinson,  I  must  say  that,  considering  the  day,  you  know — " 

"Yes,"  continued 'i\Irs.  Collum.  severely;  "surely  there  are  bet- 
ter topics  for  the  Sabbath  than— than  a  dancing  soldier!" 

"Mr.  Tweddle  knows  why  1  stopped  myself,"  said  Bella.     "But 


78  THE    TINTED    VENUS.  , 

there,  I  won't  tell  of  you — not  now,  at  all  events;  so  don't  look  lik/ 
that  at  me!" 

"  There,  Bella,  that'll  do,"  said  her  fiance,  suddenly  awakening 
to  the  fact  that  she  was  trying  to  make  herself  disagreeable,  and 
perhaps  feeling  slightly  ashamed  of  her. 

"James!  I  know  what  to  say  and  what  to  leave  unsaid,  without 
tellings  from  yon;  thanks  all  tlie  same.  You  needn't  fear  my  say- 
ing a  word  about  Mr.  Tweddle  and  Ada — la,  now,  if  I  haven't  gone 
and  said  it!     Wiiat  a  stupid  I  am  to  run  on  so!" 

•'  Drop  it,  Bella.     Do  you  hear?  that's  enough,"  growled  Jauncy. 

Leander  sat  silent;  he  did  not  attempt  again  to  turu  the  conversa- 
tion; he  knew  better.  Matilda  seemed  perfectly  calm,  and  certainly 
showed  no  surface  curiosity;  but  he  feared  that  her  mother  intended 
to  require  explanations. 

Miss  Tweddle  came  in  here  with  the  original  remark,  that  winter 
had  begun  now  in  good  earnest. 

"  Yes,"  said  Bella;  '*  why,  as  we  came  along,  there  wasn't  hardly 
a  leaf  on  the  trees  in  the  squares;  and  yet  only  yesterday  week,  at 
the  gardens,  the  trees  hadn't  begun  to  shed.  Had  they.  Mr.  Twed- 
dle? Oh!  but  I  forgot;  you  were  so  taken  up  with  paying  attention 
to  Ada —    {Well.  James!  1  suppose  1  can  make  a  remark!)" 

"  I'll  never  take  you  out  again  if  you  don't  hold  that  tongue,"  he 
whispered  savagely. 

Mrs.  Collum  fixed  her  eyes  on  Leander,  as  he  sat  cowering  on  her 
right.  "Leander  Tweddle,"  she  said,  in  a  hissing  whisper,  "  what 
is  that  young  person  talking  about?  "Who — who'is  this  '  Ada  '?  I 
insist  upon  being  told!" 

"  If  you  want  to  know,  ask  her,"  he  retorted  desperately. 

All  this  by-play  passed  unnoticed  by  j\Iiss  Tweddle,  who  was 
probably  too  full  of  the  cares  of  a  liostess  to  pay  attention  to  it;  and 
accordingly  she  judged  the  pause  that  followed  the  fitting  opportu- 
nity for  a  little  speech. 

"Mrs.  Collum,  ma'am,"  she  began,  "and  my  dearest  Miss  Ma- 
tilda, the  flower  of  all  my  lady  lodgers;  and  you,  Leandy ;  and  Mr. 
Jauncy;  and  though  last  mentioned,  not  intentionall3'so  I  assure  you. 
Miss  Parkinson,  my  dear,  I  couldn't  tell  you  how  honored  I  feel  to 
see  you  all  sitting,  so  friendly  and  cheerful,  round  my  humble  tabic! 
I  hope  this  will  be  only  the  beginning  of  many  more  so;  and  I  wish 
you  all  your  very  good  healths!" 

"  Which,  if  I  may  answer  for  self  and  present  company,"  said 
Mr.  Jauncy,  nobody  else  being  able  to  utter  a  word,  "  we  drink  and 
reciprocate." 

Leander  was  saved  for  the  moment,  and  the  dinner  passed  with- 
out further  incident.  But  his  aunt's  vein  of  sentiment  had  been 
opened,  and  could  not  be  stanched  all  at  once;  for  when  the  cloth 
was  removed,  and  the  decanters  and  dishes  of  oranges  placed  upon 
the  table,  she  gave  a  little  preparatory  cough  and  began  again. 

*' I'm  sure  it  isn't  my  wish  to  be  ceremonial,"  she  said ;  "but 
we're  all  among  friends  (for  I  should  like  to  look  upon  you  as  a 
friend,  if  you'll  let  me,"  she  added  rather  dubiously,  to  Bella). 
"  And  I  don't  really  think  there  could  be  abetter  occasion  for  a 
sort  of  little  ceremony  that  I've  quite  set  my  heart  on.    Leandy,  you 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  79 

know  what  I  mean;  and  you've  got  it  with  you,  I  know,  because 
70U  were  told  to  bring  it  with  you." 

"Miss  Tweddle,"  interrupted  Matilda,  hurriedly,  "not  now.  I 
— \  don't  thinlc  Vidler  has  sent  it  back  yet.  I  told  you,  you 
know — " 

""that's  all  you  know  about  it,  young  lad5%"  she  said,  archly; 
'•'  for  i  stopped  in  there  yesterday  and  asked  liim  about  it,  to  make 
sure;  ar.d  he  told  me  it  was  delivered  over  the  very  Saturday  after- 
noon beftre.  So,  Leandy,  oblige  me  for  once,  and  put  it  on  the 
dear  gu'l's  rnger  before  us  all;  you  needn't  be  bashful  with  us,  I'm 
sure,  either  t.f  you." 

"  What  is  ail  this  ?"  asked  INIrs.  Collum. 

-'Why,  it's  a  ring,  Mrs.  Collum,  ma'am,  that  belonged  to  my  own 
dear  aunt,  though  she  never  wore  it;  and  her  grandfather  had  the 
posy  engraved  on  the  inside  of  it.  And  1  remember  her  telling  me, 
before  she  was  taken,  that  she'd  left  it  to  me  in  her  will,  but  I 
wasn't  to  let  it  go  out  of  the  family.  So  T  gave  it  to  Leandy.  to  be 
bis  engagement  ring;  but  it  had  to  be  altered,  because  it  was  ever 
so  much  too  large  as  it  was," 

•'  I  always  thought,"  said  Mrs.  Collum,  "that  it  was  the  gentle- 
man's duty  to  provide  the  ring." 

"  So  Leandy  wanted  to;  but  I  said:  '  You  can  pay  for  the  alter- 
ing; but  I'm  fanciful  about  this,  and  I  want  to  see  dearest  Miss 
Collum  with  my  aunt's  ring  on.'  " 

"Oh,  but,  Miss  Tweddle,  can't  you  see?"  said  Matilda.  "He's, 
forgotten  it;  don't — don't  tease  him  about  it.  It  must  be  for  some 
other  time,  that's  all!" 

"  Matilda,  I'm  surprised  at  you,"  said  her  mother.  "  To  forget 
such  a  thing  as  that  would  be  unpardonable  in  any  young  man, 
Leander  Tweddle,  you  can  not  have  forgotten  it!" 

"No,"  he  said,  "I've  not  forgotten  it;  but — but  I  haven't  it 
about  me,  and  I  don't  know  as  I  could  lay  my  hand  on  it,  just  at 
present;  and  that's  the  truth!" 

''Part  of  the  truth,"  said  Bella.  "  Oh.  what  deceitful  things 
you  men  are!  Leave  me  alone,  James;  I  will  speak.  I  won't  sit  by 
and  hear  poor  dear  Miss  Collum  deceived  in  this  way.  ]Miss  Collum, 
ask  hmi  if  that  is  all  he  knows  about  it.  Ask  him,  and  see  what  he 
says ! " 

"  I'm  quite  satisfied  with  what  he  has  chosen  to  say  already.  Miss 
Parkinson;  thank  you."  said  Matilda. 

"Then  permit  me  to  say,  Miss  Collum,  that  I'm  truly  sorry  for 
you,"  said  Bella, 

"  If  you  thudt  so.  Miss  Parkinson,  I  suppose  you  must  say  so." 

"I  do  say  it,"  said  Bella;  "  for  it's  a  sorrowful  sight  to  see  meek- 
ness all  run  to  poorness  of  spirit.  You  have  a  right  to  an  explana- 
tion from  Mr.  Tweddle  there;  and  you  would  insist  on  it,  if  you 
wasn't  afraid  (and  with  good  reason)  of  the  answer  you'd  get!" 

At  the  beginning  of  this  short  colloquy  .Miss  Tweddle.  after  grow- 
ing very  red  and  restless  for  some  moments,  had  slipped  out  of  the 
room,  and  came  in  now,  trembling  and  out  of  breath,  with  a  bonnet 
in  her  hand  and  a  cloak  over  her  arm. 

"  Miss  Parkinson,"  she  said,  speaking  very  rapidly,  "  when  I 
asked  you  to  come  here  with  my  good  friend  and  former  lodger,  I 


80  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

little  thouEjht  that  anything  but  friendship  would  come  with  it;  an( 
sorry  I  am  that  it  has  turned  out  otherwise.     And  my  feelings 
Mr.  Jauncy  are  the  same  as  ever;  but — this  is  your  bonnet, 
Parkinson,  and  your  cloak.     And  this  is  my  house;  and  I  shall 
obliged  if  jou'll' kindly  put  on  the  ones,  and  walk  out  of  the  o/tier 
at  once!"  ^ 

Bella  burst  into  tears,  and  demanded  from  Mr.  Jauncy  yliy  he 
had  brought  her  there  to  be  insulted.  "  You  brought  it  alUn  your- 
self," he  said,  gloomil}^;  "you  should  have  behaved!" 

"What  have  I  done,"  cried  Bella,  "to  be  told  to  ^o,  as  if  I 
wasn't  fit  to  stay?" 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  you've  done,"  said  Miss  Twedd^e;  "  you  were 
asked  here  with  Mr.  Jauncy  to  meet  my  dear  Leandy  and  his  young 
lady,  and  get  all  four  of  you  to  know  one  another,  and  lay  founda- 
tions for  Friendship's  tlowery  bonds.  And  from  the  moment  you 
came  in,  though  I  paid  no  attention  to  it  at  first,  you've  done  noth- 
ing but  insiiuiate  and  hint,  and  try  all  you  could  to  set  my  dear  Miss 
Collum  and  her  ma  agnmst  ni}' poor  unoffending  nephew!  and  I 
won't  sit  by  any  longer  and  hear  it.  Pnt  on  3'our  bonnet  and  cloak, 
Miss  Parkinson,  and^Mr.  Jauncy  (who  knows  I  don't  bear  him  any 
ill-feeling,  whatever  happens)  will  go  home  with  you." 

"  I've^said  noil)ing,"  repeated  Bella,  "  but  what  I  had  a  right  to 
sa3%  and  what  I'll  stand  to." 

"  If  you  don't  put  on  those  things,"  said  Jauncy,  "I  shall  go 
away  myself,  and  leave  you  to  follow  as  best  you  can." 

"I'm  putting  them  on,"  said  Bella;  and  her  handswerc  imstcady 
with  passion  as  she  tied  her  bonnet  strings.  "  Don't  bull}^  me, 
James,  because  I  won't  bear  it !  Mr.  Tweddle,  if  you're  a  man, 
will  you  sit  there  and  tell  me  you  don't  know  that  that  ring  is  on  a 
certain  person's  linger — will  you  do  that?  " 

The  miserable  man  concluded  that  Ada  had  disregarded  his  en- 
treaties, and  told  her  sister  all  about  the  ring  and  the  accursed 
statue.  He  could  not  see  why  the  story  should  have  so  inflamed  Bella, 
but  her  temper  wasalwaj's  uncertain. 

Everybody  was  looking  at  him,  and  he  was  expected  to  say  some- 
thing. His  main  idea  was,  that  he  would  see  how  much  Bella 
knew  before  committing  himself. 

"  What  have  I  ever  done  to  offend  you,"  he  asked,  "that  you 
turn  on  me  in  this  downright  vixenish  manner?  I  scorn  to  reply 
to  your  insinuations!" 

"  Do  you  want  me  to  speak  out  plain?  James,  stand  away*/ 
you  please!  You  may  all  think  what  you  choose  of  me,  i  don't 
care!  Perhaps  if  you  were  to  come  in  and  find  the  man  who,  only 
a  week  ago,  had  offered  marriage  to  your  j^oungest  sister,  figuring 
away  as  engaged  to  quite  another  lad}^  you  wouldn't  be  all  milk  and 
honey,  either!  I'm  doing  right  to  expose  him:  the  man  who'd  de- 
ceive one  would  deceive  many,  and  so  you'll  find,  Miss  Collum,  little 
as  you  think  it !" 

"That's  enough,"  said  INIiss  Tweddle;  "it's  all  a  mistake,  I'm 
sure,  and  you'll  be  sorry  some  day  for  having  made  it.  Now  go. 
Miss  Parkinson,  and  make  no  more  mischief.'" 

A.  light  had  burst  in  upon  Leander's  perturbed  mind.  Ada  had 
not  broken  faith  with  hini,  after  all.     He  remembered  Bella's  con- 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  81 

duct  during  the  return  from  Rosherwich,  and  understood  al  last  to 
what  a  mistake  her  present  wrath  was  due. 

Here,  at  all  events,  was  an  accusation  he  could  repel  with  dignity, 
with  truth.  Foolish  and  unlucky  he  had  been,  and  how  unluck}' 
he  still  hoped  Matilda  might  never  learn;  but  false  he  was  not,  and 
she  should  not  be  allowed  to  believe  it. 

"  Miss  Parkinson,"  he  said,  "  I've  been  badgered  long  enough. 
What  is  it  you're  trying  to  bring  up  against  me  about  your  sister 
Ada!     Speak  it  out,  and  I'm  read}'  to  answer  you!" 

"Leander,"  said  Matilda,  "1  don't  want  to  hear  it  from  her. 
Only  you  tell  me  that  you've  been  true  to  me,  and  that  is  quite 
enough." 

"  Matilda,  you're  a  foolish  girl,  and  don't  know  what  you're  talk- 
ing about,"  said  her  mother.  "  It  is  not  enough  for  me;  so  I  beg, 
young  woman,  if  you've  anything  to  accuse  the  man  who's  to  be 
my  son-in-law  of,  you'll  say  it  now,  in  my  presence,  and  let  him 
contradict  it  afterward  if  he  can." 

"  Will  he  contradict  his  knowing  my  sister  Ada,  who's  one  of 
the  ladies  at  Madame  Chenille's,  in  the  Edge  ware  Road,  more  than 
a  twelvemonth  since,  and  paying  her  attentions?"  asked  Bella. 

"  I  don't  deny,"  said  Leander,  "meeting  her  several  times,  and 
being  considerably  struck  in  a  quiet  way.  But  that  was  before  I 
met  Matilda." 

"  You  had  met  Matilda  before  last  Saturday,  I  suppose?"  sneered 
Bella,  spitefully;  "  when  you  laid  your  plans  to  join  our  party  at 
Rosherwich,  and  trouble  my  poor  sister,  who'd  given  up  thinking 
of  you." 

"  There  you  go,  Bella!"  said  her  fiance.  "  What  do  you  know 
about  his  plans?  He'd  no  idea  as  Ada  and  you  was  to  be  there, 
and  when  I  told  him,  as  we  were  driving  down,  it  was  all  I  could 
do  to  prevent  him  jumping  out  of  the  cab!" 

"I'm  highly  flattered  to  hear  it,"  said  Bella;  "but  he  didn't 
seem  to  be  so  afraid  of  Ada  when  they  did  meet;  and  you  best 
know,  ^Ir.  Tweddle,  the  things  you  said  to  that  poor  trusting  girl 
all  the  time  you  were  walking  and  dancing  and  talking  foolishness 
to  her." 

"  I  never  said  a  word  that  couldn't  have  been  spoke  from  the 
lop  of  St.  Paul's,"  protested  Leander.  "  I  did  dance  with  her,  I 
own,  not  to  seem  uncivil;  but  we  only  waltzed  round  twice." 

"Then  why  did  you  give  her  the  ring — an  engagement  ring, 
too  ?"  insisted  Bella. 

"  Who  saw  me  give  her  a  ring  ?"  he  demanded  hotly;  "  do  you 
dare  to  say  you  did?  Did  she  ever  tell  you  I  gave  her  any  ring? 
You  know  she  didn't!" 

"  If  I  can't  trust  my  own  ears,"  said  Bella,  "  I  should  like  to 
know  what  I  can  trust.  I  heard  you  myself,  in  that  railway  car- 
riage, ask  my  sister  Ada  not  to  tell  any  one  about  some  ring,  and  I 
tried  to  get  out  of  Ada  afterward  wliat  the  secret  was;  but  she 
wouldn't  treat  me  as  a  sister,  and  be  open  with  me.  But  any  one 
with  eyes  in  their  head  could  guess  what  was  between  you,  and  all 
the  time  you  were  an  engaged  man ! " 

"See  there,  now!"  cned  the  injured  hair  dresser;  "there's  a 
thing  to  go  and  make  all  this  mischief  about!     Matilda,  Mrs.  Col- 


83  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

lum,  aunt,  I  declare  to  you  I  told  the— the  other  young  woman 
everythinc:  about  my  having  formed  new  ties  and  that:  I  was  very 
particular  not  to  give  rise  to  hopes  which  were  only  doomed  to  be 
disappointed.  As  to  what  Miss  Parkinson  says  she  overheard,  why 
it's  very  likely  1  may  have  asked  lier  sister  to  say  notliing  about  a 
ring,  and  1  won't  deny  it  was  tlie  very  same  ring  that  I  was  to  have 
brought  here  to-day;  for  the  fact  was,  I  had  the  misfoitue  to  lose 
it  in  thos3  very  gardens,  and  naturally  did  not  wish  it  talked  about: 
and  that's  the  truth,  as  I  stand  here.  As  for  giving  it  away,  I 
swear  I  never  parted  with  it  to  no  mortal  woman!  " 

"  After  that,  Bella,"  observed  Air.  Jauncy,  "you'd  better  say 
you're  sorry  you  spoke,  and  come  homawith  me— that's  what  j'ou'd 
better  do  I " 

"  I  shall  say  nothing  of  the  sort,"  she  asserted;  "  I'm  too  much 
of  a  lady  to  stay  where  my  company  is  not  desired,  and  I'm  ready 
to  go  a-s  soon  as  you  please.  But  if  lie  was  to  talk  his  head  off.  he 
would  never  persuade  me  (whatever  he  may  do  other  parties)  that 
he's  not  been  playing  double,  and  if  Ada  were  here  you  would  soon 
see  whether  lie  would  have  the  face  to  deny  it.  t^o  good-ni<:ht. 
Miss  Tweddle,  and  sooner  or  later  you'll  lind  yourself  undeceived 
in  your  precious  nephew,  take  my  word  for  it.  Good-night,  Miss 
Coilum,  and  I'm  only  sorry  you  haven't  more  spirit  than  to  put  up 
with  such  treatment.  James,  are  you  going  to  keep  me  wailing  any 
longer?" 

Mr.  Jauncy,  with  confused  apologies  to  the  company  generally, 
hurried  his  betrothed  off.  in  no  very  amiable  mood;  and  showed  his 
sense  of  her  iiidiscretions  by  indulgitig  in  some  very  plain  speaking 
on  l\ieir  homeward  way. 

As  the  street  door  shut  behind  them,  Leander  gave  a  deep  sigh  of 
relief. 

"  Matilda,  my  own  dearest  girl,"  he  said,  "  now  that  that  cocka- 
trice has  departed,  tell  me,  you  don't  doubt  your  Leander,  do  you?" 

"No,"  said  Matilda,  judicially,  "I  don't  doubt  you,  Leander; 
only  I  do  wish  you'd  been  a  little  more  open  with  me;  you  might 
have  told  me  you  had  gone  to  those  gardens  and  lost  the  ring,  in- 
stead of  leaving  me  to  hear  it  from  that  girl.'* 

"  So  I  might,  darling,"  he  owned;  "  but  I  thought  you'd  disap- 
prove." 

"And  if  she's  7ni/  daughter,"  observed  Mrs.  Coilum.  "she  will 
disapprove!" 

But  it  was  evident  from  ^Matilda's  manner  that  the  inference  was 
incorrect;  the  relief  of  finding  Leander  guiltless  on  the  main  count 
had  blinded  her  to  all  minor  shortcommgs,  and  he  had  the  happi- 
ness of  knowing  himself  fully  and  freely  forgiven. 

If  this  could  only  have  been  the  end;  but,  while  he  was  still 
throbbing  with  bliss^  he  heard  a  sound,  at  which  his  "  bedded  hair" 
started  up  and  stood  on  end— the  ill-omened  sound  of  a  slow  and 
heavy  footfall. 

"Leandy,"  cried  his  aunt,  "how  strange  you're  looking!" 

"  There's  some  one  in  the  passage,"  he  said,  hoarsely;  "  I'll  go  and 
see  her.     Don't  any  of  yon  come  out!" 

"Why,  it's  only  our  Jane,"  said  his  aunt;  "she  always  treads 
lieavj'."* 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  83 

The  steps  were  heard  jroing  up  the  stairs;  then  they  seemed  to 
pause  half-way,  and  descend  again.  "  I'll  be  bound  she's  forgot 
something,"  said  ]\Iiss  Tweddle;  "  I  never  knew  such  a  head  as  that 
girl's;"  and  Leander  began  to  be  almost  reassured. 

The  steps  were  heard  in  the  adjoining  room,  which  was  shut  off 
by  folding-doors  from  the  one  they  were  occupying. 

"Leander,"  cried  Matilda,  "  what  can  there  be  to  look  so  fright- 
ened of?"  and  as  she  spoke  there  came  a  sounding  solemn  blow  upon 
the  folding-doors. 

"  I  never  saw^  the  lady  before  in  all  my  life!"  moaned  the  guilty 
man,  before  the  doors  had  time  to  swing  back;  for  he  knew  too  well 
who  stood  behind  them. 

And  his  forebodmg  was  justified  to  the  full.  The  doors  yielded 
to  the  blow,  and,  opening  wide,  revealed  the  tall  and  commanding 
figure  of  the  goddess;  her  face,  thanks  to  Leander's  pigments,  glow- 
ing life-like  under  her  hood,  and  the  gold  ring  gleaming  on  her  out- 
stretched hand. 

"  Leander,"  said  the  goddess,  in  her  low  musical  accents,  "  come 
away ! " 

"  Upon  my  word!"  cried  Mrs.  Collum,  "  iclio  is  this  person?" 

He  could  not  speak.  There  seemed  to  be  a  hammer  beating  on 
his  brain,  reducing  it  to  a  pulp. 

"Perhaps,"  said  Miss  Tweddle,  "perhaps,  young  lady,  you'll 
explain  what  you've  come  for?" 

The  statue  slowly  pointed  to  Leander.  "  1  come  for  him,"  she 
said,  calmly;  "  he  has  vowed  himself  to  me — he  is  mine!" 

Matilda,  after  staring,  incredulous,  for  some  moments  at  the  in- 
truder, sunk  with  a  wild  scream  upon  the  sofa,  and  hid  her  face. 

Leander  flew  to  her  side.  "  Matilda,  my  own,"  he  implored, 
"don't  be  alarmed;  she  won't  touch  you — it's  me  she's  come 
after!" 

Matilda  rose  and  repulsed  him  with  sudden  energy.  "  How  dare 
you!"  she  cried,  hysterically.  "  I  see  it  all  now:  the  ring,  the — the 
cloak,  she  has  had  them  all  the  time!  Fool  that  I  was — silly,  trust- 
ing fool ! " 

And  she  broke  out  into  violent  hysterics.  "Go  away  at  once, 
hypocrite!"  enjoined  her  mother,  addressing  the  distracted  hair- 
dresser, as  he  stood,  dumb  and  impotent,  before  her.  "  Do  you 
"want  to  kill  my  poor  child?     Take  yourself  off!" 

"For  goodness'  sake,  go,  Leandy,"  added  his  aunt;  "I  can't 
bear  the  sight  of  you!" 

"  Leander,  I  wait,"  said  the  statue.     "  Come!" 

He  stood  there  a  moment  longer,  looking  blankly  at  the  two 
elder  women  as  they  bustled  about  the  prostrate  girl,  and  then  he 
gave  a  bitter  defi;mt  laugh. 

His  fate  was  too  strong  for  him.  No  one  was  in  the  mood  to 
listen  to  any  explanation;  it  was  all.  over!  "  I'm  coming,"  he  said 
to  the  goddess;  "  1  may  as  well;  I'm  not  w-antcd  htTe!" 

And,  with  a  smothered  curse,  he  dashed  blindly  from  the  room, 
and  out  into  the  foggy  street. 


8i  THE    TINTED    VEKUS. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

AN  APPEAL. 

If  you  did  know  to  whom  I  gave  the  ring, 

If  you  did  know  for  whom  I  gave  the  ring, 

And  how  unwillingly  I  left  the  ring. 

Tou  would  abate  the  strength  of  your  displeasure. 

Merchant  of  Venice. 

Leander  strode  down  the  street  in  a  whirl  of  conflicting  emo- 
tions: at  the  very  moment  when  he  seemed  to  liave  prevailed  over 
Miss  Parkinson's  machinations,  his  evil  fate  had  stepped  in  and  un- 
done liim  forever!  Wliat  would  become  of  him  without  ^Matilda? 
As  he  was  thinking  of  liis  gloom}'  prospects,  he  noticed,  for  the  fir.st 
time,  that  the  statue  was  keeping  step  by  his  side,  and  lie  turned  on 
her  with  smothered  rage.  "  Well,"  he  began,  "  I  hope  you're  satis- 
fied?" 

"Quite,  Leander,  quite  satisfied;  for  have  I  not  found  you?" 

"Oh,  you've  found  me  right  enougli!"  he  replied,  with  a  groan; 
"trust  you  for  that!  What  I  should  like  to  know  is,  how  the 
dickens  j^ou  did  it?" 

"  Thus,"  she  replied;  "  I  awoke,  and  it  was  dark,  and  5'ou  were 
not  there,  and  I  needed  you;  and  I  went  forth  and  called  you  by 
your  name.  And  you,  now  that  you  have  hearkened  to  my  call,  you 
are  happy,  are  you  not?" 

"Me?"  said  Leander,  grimly.  "Oh,  I'm  regular  jolly,  I  am! 
Haven't  I  reason?" 

"  Your  sisters  seemed  alarmed  at  my  coming,"  she  said;  "why?" 

"Well,"  said  Leander,  "they  aren't  used  to  having  marble  god- 
desses dropping  in  on  them  promiscuously." 

"The  youngest  wept:  was  it  because  I  took  you  from  her  side?" 

"  I  shouldn't  wonder,"  he  returned,  gruffly ;    "  don't  bother  me!" 

When  they  were  both  safely  within  the  little  upper  room  again, 
he  opened  the  cupboard-door  wide.  "  Now  marm,"  he  said,  in  a 
voice  which  trembled  with  repressed  rage.  "  you  must  be  tired  with 
the  exercise  you've  took  this  evening,  and  I'll  trouble  you  to  walk 
in  here," 

"  There  are  many  things  on  which  I  would  speak  with  you,"  she 
said. 

"You  must  keep  them  for  next  time,"  he  answered,  roughly.  "  If 
you  can  see  anything,  you  can  see  that  just  now  I'm  not  in  a  temper 
for  to  stand  it,  ^vhatever  I  may  be  another  evening." 

"  Why  do  I  suffer  this  language  from  3"0u?"  she  demanded,  in- 
dignantly— "  why?" 

"If  you  don't  go  in,  you'll  hear  language  you'll  like  still  less, 
goddess  or  no  goddess!"  he  said,  foaming.  "  I  mean  it.  I've  been 
worked  up  past  all  bearing,  and  I  advise  you  to  let  me  alone  just 
now,  or  you'll  repent  it!" 

"Enough!"  she  said,  haughtily,  and  stalked  proudly  into  the 
lonely  niche,  which  he  closed  instantly:  as  he  did  so  he  noticed  his 
Sunday  papers  lying  still  folded  on  his  table,  and  seized  one  eagerly. 


THE    TINTED    VE:N"US.  85 

"  It  may  have  something  in  it  about  what  Jauncy  was  telling  me 
of,"  he  said;  and  his  search  was  rewarded  by  the  following  para- 
graph: 

"Daring  Capture  of  Burglars  in  Bloomsbury. — On  the 
night  of  Friday,  the  — th,  Police-constable  Yorke,  B  954,  while  on 
duty,  in  the  course  of  one  of  his  rounds,  discovered  two  men,  in  a 
fainting  condition  and  covered  with  blood,  wiiich  was  apparently 
flowing  from  sundry  wounds  upon  their  persons,  lying  against  the 
railings  of  Queen  Square.  Being  unable  to  give  any  coherent  ac- 
count of  themselves,  and  house-breaking  implements  being  found 
in  their  possession,  they  were  at  once  removed  to  the  Bow  Street 
Station,  where,  the  charge  having  been  entered  against  them,  they 
were  recognized  by  a  member  of  the  force  as  two  notorious  house- 
breakers, who  have  long  been  '  wanted '  in  connection  with  the 
Walham  Green  burglary,  in  which,  as  will  be  remembered,  an  officer 
lost  his  life." 

The  paragraph  went  on  to  give  their  names  and  sundry  other 
details,  and  concluded  with  a  sentence  which  plunged  Leander  into 
fresh  torments: 

"  In  spite  of  the  usual  caution,  both  prisoners  insisted  upon 
volunteering  a  statement,  the  exact  nature  of  which  has  iiOt  yet 
transpired,  but  which  is  believed  to  have  reference  to  another 
equally  mysterious  outrage — the  theft  of  the  famous  Venus  from 
the  Wricklesmarsh  Collection— and  is  understood  to  divert  suspicion 
into  a  hitherto  unsuspected  channel." 

What  could  this  mean,  if  not  that  those  villains,  smarting  under 
their  second  failure,  had  denounced  him  in  revenge?  He  tried  to 
persuade  himself  that  the  passage  would  bear  any  other  construc- 
tion, but  not  ver}^  successfully.  "If  they  have  brought  me  in,"  he 
thought,  and  it  was  his  only  gleam  of  consolation,  "I  should  have 
heard  of  it  before  this." 

And  even  this  gleam  vanished  as  a  sharp  knocking  was  heard 
below^;  and,  descending  to  open  the  door,  he  found  his  visitor  to  be 
Inspector  Bilbow. 

"Evening,  Tweddle,"  said  the  inspector,  quietly.  "I've  come 
to  have  another  little  talk  with  you." 

Leander  thought  he  would  play  his  part  till  it  became  quite  hope 
less.    "Proud  to  see  you,  Mr.  Inspector,"  he  said.    "  Will  you  walk 
into  my  saloon?  and  I'll  light  the  gas  for  you." 

"No,  don't  you  trouble  yourself,"  said  the  terrible  man;  "I'll 
walk  upstairs  where  you're  sitting  yourself,  if  you've  no  ob- 
jections." 

Leander  dared  not  make  any,  and  he  ushered  the  detective  up 
stairs  accordingly. 

"  Ha!"  said^the  latter,  throwing  a  quick  eye  round  the  litthj 
room.  "Nice  little  crib  you've  got  here:  keep  everything  you  want 
on  the  premises,  eh?  Find  those  cupboards  very  convenient,  I  dare 
say?" 

"  Very,"  said  Leander  (like  the  innocent  Joseph  Surface  that-  ho 


S6  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

was);   "oh,  very  convenient,  sir!"     He  tried  to  keep  his  eyes  from 
reslins:  too  consciously  upon  the  fatal  door  that  held  his  secret. 

"Keep  your  coal  and  your  wine  and  spirits  there?"  said  the  de- 
tective.    (Was  he  watching  his  countenance  or  not?) 

"  Y — yes,"  said  Leander;  "  leastways,  in  one  of  them.  Will  you 
take  anything,  sir?" 

"Thank'ee,  Tweddle;  I  don't  mind  if  I  do.  And  what  do  you 
keep  tn  the  otlier  one,  now?" 

"  The  other?"  said  the  poor  man.  "  Oh,  odd  things!"  (He  cer- 
tainly had  one  odd  thing  in  it.) 

After  tiie  officer  had  chosen  and  mixed  his  spirits  and  water,  he 
began:  "Now,  you  know  what's  brought  me  here,  don't  you?" 

("If  he  was  sure,  he  wouldn't  try  to  pump  me,"  argued  Leander, 
"  I  won't  throw  up  just  yet.") 

"I  suppose  it's  the  ring,"  he  replied,  innocently.  "You  don't 
mean  to  say  you've  got  it  back  for  me,  Mr.  Inspector?  Well,  I  am 
glad." 

"  I  thought  you  set  no  particular  value  on  the  ring  when  I  met 
you  last?"  said  the  other. 

"  Why,"  said  Leander,  "I  may  have  said  so  out  of  politeness, 
not  wanting  to  trouble  you;  but  as  you  said  it  was  the  statue  you 
were  after  chiefly,  why  1  don't  mind  admitting  that  1  shall  be  thank- 
ful indeed  to  get  that  ring  back;  and  so  you've  brought  it,  have 
you,  sir?" 

He  said  this  so  naturally,  having  called  in  all  his  powers  of  dis- 
simulation to  help  him  in  his  extremity,  that  the  tletective  was 
favorably  impressed;  he  had  already  felt  a  suspicion  tiiat  he  liad 
been  sent  here  on  a  fool's  errand,  and  no  one  could  have  looked  less 
like  a  daring  criminal,  and  the  trusted  confederate  of  still  more 
daring  ruffians,  than  did  Leander  at  that  moment. 

"  Heard  anything  of  Potter  lately?''  he  asked,  wishing  to  try  the 
effect  of  a  sudden  coup. 

"  I  don't  know  the  gentleman,"  said  Leander,  firmly;  for,  after 
all,  he  did  not. 

"  Now,  take  care;  he's  been  seen  to  frequent  this  house!  We 
know  more  than  you  think,  young  man." 

"Oh!  if  he  bluffs,  i  can  bluff  too,"  passed  through  Leander's 
mind.  "  Inspector  Bilbow,"  he  said,  "  I  give  you  my  sacred  honor, 
I've  never  set  eyes  on  him;  he  can't  have  been  here,  not  with  my 
knowledge.  It's  my  belief  you're  trying  to  make  out  something 
against  me.  If  you're  a  friend,  inspector,  you'll  tell  me  straight 
oiit." 

"  That's  not  our  way  of  doing  business;  and  yet,  hang  it,  I  ought 
to  know"  an  honest  man  by  this  time!^  Tweddle,  I'll  drop  the  in- 
vestigator, and  speak  as  man  to  man.  You've  been  reported  tome 
(never  mind  b}'^  whom)  as  the  receiver  of  the  stolen  Venus — a  pal  of 
this  very  Potter,  that's  what  I've  against  you,  my  man !" 

"  I  know  who  told  5'ou  that,"  said  Leander;  "  it  was  that  count 
and  his  precious  friend  Braddle!" 

"Oh,  you  know  them,  do  you?  That's  an  odd  guess  for  an  inno- 
cent man,  Tweddle?" 

"  They  found  me  out  from  inquiries  at  the  gardens,"  said  Le- 
ander; "and  as  for  guessing,  it's  in  this  very  paper.     So  it's  me 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  81 

they've  gone  and  implicated,  have  thoy?  All  right.  I  suppose 
they're  men  whose  word  you'd  go  by,  wouldn't  you,  sir — truthful, 
reliable  kind  of  parlies,  eh?" 

"None  of  that,  Tweddle,"  said  the  inspector,  rather  uneasily. 
"  We  officers  are  bound  to  follow  up  any  clew,  no  niatler  where  it 
comes  from.  1  was  informed  that  that  Venus  is  concealed  some- 
where about  these  premises.  It.  may  be,  or  it  may  not  be;  but  it's 
my  duty  to  make  the  proper  investii;ations:  if  you  were  a  prince  of 
the  blood,  it  would  be  all  the  same." 

"  Well,  all  I  can  say  is.  that  I'm  as  inrtocent  as  my  own  toilet 
preparations.  Ask  yourself  if  it  is  likely?  What  couUl  1  do  with 
a  stolen  statue — not  to  mention  that  I'm  a  respectable  tradesman, 
with  a  reputation  to' maintain?  Excuse  me,  but  I'm  afraid  those 
burglars  have  been  'aving  a  lark  with  you,  sir." 

He  went  just  a  little  too  far  here;  for  the  detective  was  visibly 
irritated.  "  Don't  chatter  to  me,"  lie  said.  "If  3ou're  innocent 
so  much  the  better  for  you;  if  that  statue  is  found  here  af;er  this,  it 
will  ruin  you.  If  you  know  anything,  be  it  ever  so  little,  about  it, 
the  best  tiling  you  can  do  is  to  speak  out  while  there's  time." 

"I  can  only  say  once  more,  Tm  as  innocent  as  the  driveling 
snow,"  repeated  Leander.  "  Why  can't  you  believe  my  word  against 
those  blackguards?" 

"  Perhaps  I  do,"  said  the  other;  "  but  I  must  make  a  formal  look 
round  to  ease  my  conscience." 

Leander's  composure  nearly  failed  him.  "  By  all  means,"  he  said 
at  length;  "  come  and  ease  your  conscience  all  over  the  house,  sir, 
do;  I  can  show  you  over." 

"  Softly,"  said  the  detective;  "I'll  begin  here,  and  work  gradu- 
ally up,  and  then  down  again." 

"Here?  "said  Leander,  aghast;  "why,  you've  seen  all  there  is 
here !  '* 

"Now,  Tweddle,  I  shall  conduct  this  in  my  own  \^'ay,  if  yon 
please.  I've  been  following  your  eyes,  Tweddle,  and  they've  told 
me  tales.  I'll  trouble  you  to  open  that  cupboard  you  keep  looking 
at  so." 

"  This  cupboard?"  cried  Leander,  "  why,  you  don't  suppose  I've 
got  the  Venus  in  there,  sir!" 

"  If  it's  anywhere,  it's  there!  There's  no  taking  me  in,  I  tell  3-ou 
— open  it!" 

"Oh!  "said  Leander,  "it  is  hard  to  be  the  object  of  these  cruel 
suspicions.  Mr.  Inspector,  listen  tome:  I  can't  open  that  cupbourd, 
and  I'll  tell  you  why.  You— you've  been  young  yourself.  Think 
how  you'd  feel  in  my  situation — and  consider  her  !  As  a  gentleman 
you  won't  press  it,  I'm  sure!" 

"If  I'm  making  any  mistake,  I  shall  know  how  to  apologize," 
said  the  inspector.     "  If  you  don't  open  that  cupboard,  1  shall." 

"Never!"  exclaimed  Leander.  "I'll  die  liisl!"  and  he  threw 
himself  upon  the  liandle. 

The  other  caught  him  by  the  shoulders,  and  sent  him  twirling 
into  the  opposite  corner;  and  then,  taking  a  key  from  his  own 
pocket,  he  unlocked  the  door  himself. 

"I — 1  never  encouraged  her!"  whimpered  Leander,  as  he  saw 
that  all  was  lost.  


88  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

The  officer  had  stepped  back  in  silence  from  the  cupboard— then 
lie  faced  Leander,  with  a  changed  expression.  "I  suppose  you 
think  yourself  devilish  sharp?"  he  said  savagely;  and  Leander  dis- 
covered that  the  cupboard  was  as  bare  as  Mother  Hubbard's! 

He  was  not  precisely  surprised,  except  at  first.  "  She's  keeping 
out  of  the  way;  she  wouldn't  be  the  goddess  she  is  if  she  couldn't 
do  a  trifling  thing  like  that!"  was  afl  he  thought  of  the  phenome- 
non. He  forced  himself  to  laugh  a  little.  "  Excuse  me,"  he  said, 
"but  you  did  seem  so  set  on  detecting  something  wrong,  that  1 
couldn't  help  humoring  you!" 

Inspector  Bilbow  was  considerably  out  of  humor,  and  gave  Lean- 
der to  understand  that  lie  would  lau^h  in  a  certain  o!;scure  region, 
known  as  "  the  other  side  of  his  face,"'  by  and  by.  "  You  take  care, 
that's  my  advice  to  you,  young  man.  I've  a  deuced  good  mind  to 
arrest  you  on  suspicion  as  it  is!"  he  said  holly. 

"  Lor',  sir!"  said  Leander,  "what for — for  not  having  anything 
in  that  cupboard?" 

"  It's  my  belief  you  know  more  than  you  choose  to  tell.  Be  that 
as  it  may,  I  shall  not  take  you  into  custody  for  the  present;  but  you 
pay  attention  to  what  I  am  going  to  tell  you  next.  Don't  you  at- 
tempt to  leave  this  house,  or  to  remove  anything  from  it,  till  you  see 
ine  again,  and  that'll  be  some  time  to-morrow  evening.  If  you  do 
attempt  it,  you'll  be  apprehended  at  once,  for  you're  being  watched. 
I  tell  you  that  for  j^our  own  sake,  Tweddle;  for  I've  no  wish  to  gc-t 
you  into  trouble  if  you  act  fairly  by  me.  But  mind  you  stay  where 
you  are  for  the  next  twentj'-foiir  hours." 

"And  what's  to  happen  then?"  said  Leander. 

"  I  mean  to  have  the  whole  house  thoroughly  searched,  and  you 
must  be  ready  to  give  us  every  assistance — tliat's  what's  to  happen. 
I  might  make  a  secret  of  it,  but  where's  the  use?  If  you're  not  a 
J'ool,  you'll  see  that  it  won't  do  to  play  any  tricks.  You'd  far  better 
stand  by  me  than  Potter." 

"  1  tell  you  I  don't  know  Potter.  Blow  Potter!"  said  Leander, 
warmly. 

"  We  shall  see,"  was  all  the  detective  deigned  to  reply;  "  and  just 
be  ready  for  my  men  to-morrow  evening,  or  take  the  consequences. 
Those  are  my  last  words  to  you!" 

And  with  this  he  took  his  leave.  He  was  by  no  means  the  most 
brilliant  officer  in  the  Department,  and  he  felt  uncomfortabl}' aware 
that  he  did  not  see  his  way  clear  as  yet;  he  could  not  even  make  up 
his  mind  on  so  elementary  a  point  as  Leander's  guilt  or  innocence. 

But  he  meant  to  take  the  course  he  had  announced,  and  liis 
frankness  in  giving  previous  notice  was  not  without  calculation.  He 
argued  thus:  If  Tweddle  was  free  from  all  complicity,  nothing  was 
lost  by  delaying  the  search  for  a  day;  if  he  were  guilty  he  would 
be  more  than  mortal  if  he  did  not  attempt,  after  such  a  warning, 
either  to  hide  his  booty  more  securely,  and  probably  leave  traces 
which  would  betray  him,  or  else  to  escape,  when  his  guilt  would  be 
manifest. 

Unfortunately,  there  were  circumstances  in  the  case  which  he 
could  not  be  expected  to  know,  and  which  made  his  logic  inappli- 
cable. 

After  he  had  gone,  Leander  thrust  his  hands  deep  into  his  pock- 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  89 

ets,  and  began  to  whistle  forlornly.  "A  little  while  ago  it  was 
hurghirs — n"ow  it's  police!"  he  reflected  aloud.  "I'm  going  it,  I 
am!  And  then  there's  Matilda  and  that  there  Venus — one  pre- 
dickynient  on  top  of  another!"  (But  here  a  sudden  hope  lightened 
his  burden.)  "  Suppose  she's  took  herself  off  for  good?"  lie  was 
prevented  from  indulging  this  any  further  by  a  long,  low  laugh, 
which  came  from  the  closed  cupboard. 

"  No  such  luck — she's  back  again!"  he  groaned.  "  Oh,  come  out 
if  you  want  to — don't  stay  larfin'  at  me  in  there!" 

The  goddess  stepped  out,  with  a  smile  of  subdued  mirth  upon  her 
lips.  "  Leander,"  she  said,  "did  it  surprise  you  just  now  that  I 
had  vanished?" 

"  Oh,"  he  said  wearily,  "  I  don't  know — yes,  I  suppose  so;  you 
found  some  way  of  getting  through  at  the  back,  I  dare  say?" 

"  Do  3^ou  think  that  even  now  I  cannot  break  through  the  petty 
restraints  of  matter?" 

"  Well,  however  it  was  managed,  it  was  cleverly  done,  I  must 
say  that.  1  didn't  hardly  expect  it  of  you.  But  you  must  do  the 
same  to  morrow  night,  mind  you!" 

"Oh,  must  I?"  she  said. 

"  Yes,  unless  you  want  to  ruin  me  altogether,  you  must.  They're 
going  to  searcli  the  premises /(?;'  you  V 

"  1  have  heard  all,"  she  said ;  "  but  give  yourself  no  anxiety;  by 
that  time  you  and  I  will  be  beyond  human  reach!" 

"Not  me!"  he  corrected.  "  If  you  think  I'm  going  to  let  myself 
be  wafted  over  to  Cyprus  (which  is  British  soil  now,  let  me  tell 
you),  you're  under  a  entire  delusion.  I've  never  been  wafted  any- 
where yet,  and  I  don't  mean  to  try  it!" 

And  her  pent-up  wrath  broke  forth  and  descended  upon  him  with 
crushing  force. 

"Meanest  and  most  contemptible  of  mortal  men,  you  shall  rec- 
ognize me  as  the  goddess  I  am!  I  have  borne  with  3'ou  too  long; 
it  shall  end  this  night.  Shallow  fool  that  you  have  been,  to  match 
your  puny  intellect  against  a  goddess  famed  for  her  wiles  as  for  her 
beauty!  You  have  thought  me  simple  and  guileless;  you  have 
never  feared  to  treat  me  with  flippant  disrespect;  you  have  even 
dared  to  suppose  that  y5u  could  keep  me — an  immortal— pent 
within  these  wretched  walls!  I  humored  you,  I  let  you  fool  your- 
self with  the  notion  that  your  will  was  free — your  soul  your  own. 
Now  til  at  is  over!  Look  at  the  perils  which  encircle  you.  Every- 
thing has  been  aiding  to  drive  you  into  these  arms.  My  hour  of 
triiunph  is  at  hand— yield  then!  Cast  yourself  at  ray  feet,  and 
groTel  for  pardon— for  mercy — or  assuredly  I  will  spare  you  not!" 

Leander  went  down  on  ail  fours  on  the  hearth-rug.  "  Mercy!" 
he  cried,  feebly.  "  I've  meant  no  offense.  Only  tell  me  what  you 
want  of  me." 

"  Why  should  I  tell  you  again?  I  demand  the  words  from  you 
which  place  you  within  my  power:  speak  them  at  once!" 

("  Ah!"  thouglit  Leander,  "  I  am  not  in  her  power  as  it  is  then.") 
"  If  I  was  to  tell  you  once  more  that  I  couldn't  undertake  to  say 
any  such  words?"  lie  asked  aloud. 

"Then,"  she  said,  "my  patience  would  be  at  an  end,  and  \ 
would  scatter  your  vile  frame  to  the  four  winds  of  heaven!" 


90  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

"Lady  Venus,"  said  Leander,  getting  up  with  a  white  and  des- 
perate face,  "  don't  drive  me  into  a  corner.  I  can't  go  off,  not  at  a 
moment's  notice — in  eitiier  way!  I — I  must  have  a  day— on  13^  a 
day— to  make  my  arrangements  in.  Give  me  a  day,  Lady  Venus; 
I  ask  it  as  a  partickler  favor!" 

"  Be  if  so,"  she  said ;  "  one  day  I  give  you  in  wliich  to  take  leave 
of  sucli  as  may  be  dear  to  you;  but,  after  tliat,  I  will  listen  to  no 
further  pleadings.  You  are  mme,  and,  all  unworthy  as  you  are,  I 
shall  hold  you  to  your  pledge!" 

Leander  was  left  wiih  this  terrible  warning  ringing  in  his  ears; 
the  goddess  would  hold  him  to  his  involuntary  pledge.  Even  he 
could  see  that  it  was  pride,  and  not  affection,  which  rendered  her 
so  determined;  and  he  trembled  at  the  thought  of  placing  himself 
irrevocably  in  her  power. 

But  what  was  he  to  do?  The  alternative  was  too  awful;  and 
then,  in  either  case,  he  must  lose  Matilda.  Here  the  recollection  of 
how  he  had  left  her  came  over  him  with  a  vivid  force.  What  must 
she  be  thinking  of  him  at  that  moment?  And  who  would  ever  tell 
her  the  truth,  when  he  had  been  spirited  away  forever? 

"  Oh,  Matilda!"  he  cried,  "if  you  only  knew  the  hidgeous  posi- 
tion I'm  in — if  you  could  only  advise  me  what  to  do — I  could  bear 
it  belter ! " 

And  then  he  resolved  that  he  would  ask  that  advice  without  de- 
lay, and  decide  nothing  until  she  replied.  Tiierewas  no  reason  for 
any  further  concealment;  she  had  seen  the  statue  herself,  and  must 
know  the  worst.  What  she  could  not  know  was  hi.s  perfect  inno- 
cence of  any  real  unfaithfulness  to  her,  and  that  he  mu.st  explain. 

He  sat  up  all  night  composing  a  letter  that  should  touch  her  to 
the  heart,  with  the  following  result: 

"My  own  dearest  Girl, — If  such  you  will  still  allow  me  to 
qualify  you,  I  write  to  you  in  a  slate  of  mind  that  I  really  ardly 
know  what  I  am  about,  but  I  can  not  indure  making  no  effort  to 
clear  up  the  gaping  abiss  which  the  events  of  the  past  fatal  after- 
noon has  raised  betwixt  us, 

"  In  spite  of  all  I  could  do,  you  have  now  seen,  and  been  justl}' 
alarmed  at,  the  Person  with  whom  1  allowed  myself  to  become  in- 
volved in  such  a  unhappy  and  unprecedented  manner,  and  having 
done  so,  you  can  think  for  yourself  whether  that  Art  of  Stone  was 
able  for  to  supplant  yours  for  a  single  moment,  though  the  way  in 
which  such  a  hidgeous  Event  transpired  I  can  not  trust  my  pen  to 
describe  except  in  the  remark  that  it  was  purely  axidental.  It  all 
appened  on  that  ill-ominous  Saturday  when  we  went  down  to  those 
Gardens  where  my  Doom  was  saving  up  to  lay  in  wait  for  me,  an(| 
I  scorn  to  deny  that  Bella's  sister  Ada  was  one  of  the  party.  But 
as  to  anything  serious  in  that  quarter,  oh  Tilly  the  ole  time  I  was 
contrasting  you  wit  h  her  and  thinking  how  truly  superior,  and  never 
did  I  swerve  not  what  could  be  termed  a  swerve  for  a  instant.  I 
did  dance  avf  a  walz  with  her — but  why?  Because  she  asked  me 
to  it  and  as  a  Gentleman  I  was  bound  to  oblige!  And  that  was 
afterwards  too,  when  I  had  put  that  ring  on  which  is  the  sauce  of 
all  my  recent  aggony.  All  the  while  I  was  dancing  my  thoughts 
were  elsewhere — on  how  I  could  get  the  ring  back  again,  for  so  I 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  91 

still  hoped  I  could,  though  when  I  came  lo  have  a  try.  oh  my  dear 
girl  no  one  couldn't  persuade  her  she's  that  obstinate,  and  yet  unless 
I  do  it  is  all  over  with  mo,  and  soon  too! 

"  And  now  if  it's  the  last  time  I  shall  ever  write  words  with  a 
mortal  pen,  I  must  request  your  support  in  this  dilemmer  which  is 
sounding  its  dread  orns  at  my  very  door! 

"  You  know  what  she  is  and  who  she  is,  and  you  can  not  doubt 
but  what  she's  ngodess,  loath  as  you  must  feel  to  admit  such  a  thing, 
and  I  ask  you  if  it  would  be  downright  wicked  in  me  to  do  what 
she  tells  me  I  must  do.  Indeed  I  won't  do  it,  being  no  less  than 
flying  witii  her  to  a  distant  climb,  and  you  know  how  repugnant  I 
am  to  such  a  action — not  if  you  advise  me  against  it  or  even  if  you 
was  but  to  assure  me  your  affections  were  unchanged  in  spite  of  all! 
But  you  know  we  parted  under  pigulier  circs,  and  I  can  not  dis- 
gise  from  myself  that  you  may  be  thinking  wuss  of  me  than  what 
Matilda  I  can  honestly  say  I  deserve! 

"  Now  I  tell  yod  solimly  that  if  this  is  the  fact,  and  you've  been 
thinking  of  your  proper  pride  and  your  womanly  dignity  and  things 
like  that — there's  no  time  for  to  do  it  in  Matilda,  if  you  don't  want 
to  break  with  me  for  all  Eternity! 

"  For  she's  pressing  me  to  carry  out  the  pledge,  as  she  calls  it, 
and  I  must  decide  before  this  time  to  morrow,  and  I  want  to  feel 
you  are  not  lost  to  me  before  I  can  support  my  trial,  and  what  with 
countless  perplexities  and  burglars  threatening,  and  giving  false  in- 
formations, and  police  searchings,  there's  no  saying  what  I  may  do 
nor  what  I  mayn't  do  if  I'm  left  to  myself,  for  indeed  I  am  very  un- 
appy  Matilda,  and  if  ever  a  man  was  made  a  Victim  through  acting 
without  intentions,  or  if  with,  of  the  best — I  am  that  Party!  O  Ma- 
tilda don't,  don't  desert  me,  unless  you  have  seased  to  care  for  me, 
and  in  that  contingency  I  can  look  upon  my  Fate  whatever  it  be 
with  a  apath}^  that  will  supply  the  courage  wiiich  will  not  even 
winch  at  its  aproach.  but  if  I  am  still  of  value,  come,  and  come 
precious  soon,  or  it  will  be  loo  late  to  the  Assistance  of 
"  Your  truly  penitent  and  unfortunate 

"Le.\nder  Tweddle. 

"P.S. — You  will  see  the  condition  of  my  feelings  from  my  spell- 
ing— I  haven't  the  hart  to  spell." 

Dawn  was  breaking  as  he  put  the  final  touches  to  this  appeal, 
and  read  it  over  with  a  gloomy  approbation.  He  had  always  cher- 
ished the  conviction  that  he  could  "  write  a  good  letter  when  he 
was  put  to  it,"  and  felt  now  that  he  had  more  than  risen  to  the  oc- 
casion. 

"  William  shall  take  it  down  to  Bayswater  the  first  thing  to- 
morrow— no,  to-day.  I  mean,"  he  said,  rubbing  his  hot  eyes;  "  I 
fancy  it  will  do  my  business!" 

And  it  did. 


92  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE    LAST    STRAW. 

Thou  in  justice. 
If  from  the  height  of  majestj'  we  can 
Look  down  upon  thy  lowness  and  embrace  it, 
Art  bound  with  fervor  to  look  up  to  me. 

Massingeh:  Roman  Actor. 

Haggard  and  distraiis^ht  was  Leandcr  as  he  went  about  his 
business  that  morninir,  so  mechanically  that  one  customer,  wlio  had 
requested  to  have  his  luxuriant  locks  "  trimmed,"  found  himself  re- 
duced to  a  state  of  penal  bullet-headedness  before  he  could  protest, 
and  another  sacrificed  his  whiskers  and  part  of  one  ear  to  the  hair- 
dresser's uninspired  scissors.  For  Leander's  eyes  were  constantly 
turned  to  the  front  part  of  his  shop,  wjiere  his  apprentice  might 
come  in  at  any  moment  with  the  answer  to  his  appeal. 

At  last  the  moment  came  when  the  bell  fixed  at  the  door  sounded 
sharply,  and  he  saw  the  sleek  head  and  chubby  red  face  he  liad  been 
so  anxiously  expectinir.  He  was  busy  with  a  customer;  but  that 
could  not  detain  nim  then,  and  he  rushed  quickly  into  the  outer 
shop.  "  Well,  William."  lie  said,  breathlessly,  "  a  nice  time  you've 
been  over  that  message!     I  gave  you  the  money  for  your  bus." 

"  Yessur,  but  it  was  this  way:  you  said  a  green  bus,  and  I  took  a 
green  bus  with  'Bayswater'  on  it,  and  I  didn't  know  nothinsx  was 
wrong,  and  when  it  stopped  I  sez  to  the  conductor,  'This  ain't 
Kensington  Gardings;'  and  he  sez,  'No,  it's  Archer  Street;'  and  I 
sez—" 

"  Never  mind  that  now;  you  got  to  the  shop  didn't  you?" 

"  Yes,  I  got  to  the  shop,  sir,  and  I  see  the  lady;  but  1  sez  to  that 
conductor,  *  You  should  ha'  told  me,'  I  sez — " 

"Did  she  give  you  anything  for  me?"  interrupted  Leander,  im- 
patiently. 

"  Yessur,"  said  the  boy. 

"  Then  where  the  dooce  is  it?" 

'"Ere!"  said  William,  and  brought  out  an  envelope,  which  his 
master  tore  open  with  joy:  it  contained  his  own  letter! 

"  William,"  he  said  unsteadily,  "  is  this  all?" 

"Ain't  it  enough,  sir?"  said  the  young  scoundrel,  who  had 
guessed  the  state  of  affairs,  and  felt  an  impish  satisfaction  at  his  em- 
ployer's rejection. 

"None  of  that,  William:  d'ye  hear  me?"  said  Leander.  "  W^ill- 
iam,  I  ain't  been  a  bad  master  to  you.  Tell  me,  how  did  she  take 
it?" 

"Well,  she  didn't  seem  to  want  to  take  it  nohow  at  first,"  said 
the  boy;  "  I  went  up  to  the  desk  where  she  was  a  sit  tin'  and  gave 
it  her,  and  by  and  by  she  opened  it  with  the  tips  of  her  fingers,  as 
if  it  would  bite,  and  read  it  all  through  very  careful,  and  [  could  see 
her  nose  ^oing  up  gradual,  and  her  color  coming,  and  then  she  sez 
to  me,  '  lou  may  go  now,  boy;  there's  no  answer;'  and  I  sez  to  her, 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  93 

'  If  you  please,  miss,  master  said  as  I  was  not  to  go  away  without  a 
answer;'  so  she  sez,  uncommon  short  and  stiff,  'In  that  case  he 
shall  have  it!'  like  that,  she  sez,  as  proud  as  a  queen,  and  she  scrib- 
bles a  line  or  two  on  it,  and  throws  it  to  me,  and  goes  on  casting  up 
figgers." 

"  A  line  or  two!  where?"  cried  Leander,  and  caught  up  the  letter 
again:  yes,  there  on  the  last  page  was  Matilda's  delicate  commercial 
handwriting,  and  the  poor  man  read  the  cruel  words,  "i  have  nothing 
to  advise;  I  give  you  up  to  your  goddess  /" 

"Very  well,  William,"  he  said,  with  a  deadly  calm,  "that's  all. 
You  young  devil,  what  are  you  asniggering  at?"  he  added,  with  a 
«udden  outburst. 

"  On'y  something  I  'card  a  boy  say  in  the  street,  sir,  going  along, 
sir;  nothing  to  do  with  you,  sir." 

"Oh,  youth,  youth!"  muttered  the  poor  broken  man;  "boys 
don't  grow  feelings,  an}^  more  than  they  grow  whiskers!" 

And  he  went  back  to  his  saloon,  where  he  was  instantly  hailed 
with  reproaches  from  the  abandoned  customer.  "Look  here,  sir! 
what  do  you  mean  by  this?  I  told  you  1  wanted  to  be  shaved,  and 
you've  soaped  the  top  of  my  head  and  left  it  to  cool !  What "  (and 
he  made  use  of  expletives  here\  "  what  are  you  about?" 

Leander  apologized  on  the  ground  of  business  of  a  pressing  nat- 
ure, but  the  customer  was  not  pacified.  "Business,  su'!  your 
business  is  ^^re .•  /w  your  business!  and  I  come  to  be  shaved," and 
3'ou  soap  the  top  of  my  head,  and  leave  me  all  alone  to  dry!  It's 
scandalous!  it's — " 

"  Look  here,  sir,"  interrupted  Leander,  gloomily;  "I've  a  good 
deal  of  private  trouble  to  put  up  with  just  now,  without  having  ^/o?^ 
going  on  at  me;  so  I  must  ask  you  ni>t  to  arris  me  like  this,  or  I 
don't  know  what  I  might  do,  with  a  razor  so  'andy !" 

"That'll  do!"  said  the  customer,  hastily;  "T — I  don't  care 
about  being  shaved  this  morning.  Wipe  my  head,  and  let  me  go; 
no,  I'll  wipe  it  myself,  don't  you  trouble!"  and  he  made  for  \he 
door.  "  It's  my  belief,"  he  said,  pausing  on  the  threshold  for  an 
instant,  '•  that  you're  a  dangerous  lunatic,  sir;  you  ought  to  be  shut 
up!" 

"I  dessny  I  shall  have  a  mad-doctor  down  on  me  after  tin's," 
thought  Leander,  "but  I  sha'n't  wait  for  him.  No.  it  is  all  over 
now:  the  (lie  is  fixed!  Cruel  Tillie!  you  have  spoke  the  mandrake; 
you  have  thrust  me  into  the  ston}'  harms  of  that  'eathen  goddess — 
always  supposing  the  police  don't  nip  in  fust  and  get  the  start  of 
her." 

No  more  customers  came  that  day,  which  was  fortunate,  perhaps, 
for  them.  The  afternoon  passed,  and  dusk  approached,  but  the 
hair-dresser  sat  on,  motionless,  in  his  darkening  saloon,  without  the 
energy  to  light  a  single  gas  jet. 

At  last  lie  roused  himself  sufficiently  to  go  to  the  head  of  the 
stairs  leading  to  his  "  labatry,"  and  called  for  William,  who.  it  ap- 
peared, was  composing  an  egg-wash,  after  one  of  his  employer's 
formula?,  and  came  up,  wondering  to  find  the  place  in  darkness. 

"  Come  here,  William,"  said  Leander,  solemnly.  "  I  just  want  a 
few  words  with  you,  and  then  you  can  go.  I  can  do  the  shutting- 
up  myself.     AYilliam,  we  can  none  of  us  foretell  the  future;    and  it 


94  THE    TINTED    VEXUS. 

may  so  'appen  that  you  are  lookino;  on  my  face  for  the  last  time:  if 
it  should  so  be,  William,  remember  the  ■words  I  am  now  about  to 
speak,  and  lay  them  to  art!  This  world  is  full  of  pitfalls;  and 
some  of  us  walk  circumspect  and  keep  out  of  'em,  and  some  of  us, 
William — some  of  us  don't.  If  there's  any  places  more  abounding 
in  pitfalls  than  what  others  are,  it  is  the  noxious  localities  known 
under  the  deceitful  appellation  of  '  pleasure' gardens.  And  you 
may  take  that  as  the  voice  of  one  calling  to  you  from  the  bottom  of^ 
about  as  deep  a 'ole  as  a  mortal  man  ever  plumped  into.  And  if 
ever  you  find  a  taste  for  statuary  growing  on  30U,  William,  keep  it 
down,  wrastle  with  it,  and  don't  encourage  it.  Farewell,  William  I 
Be  liere  at  the  usual  time  to  morrow,  though  whether  3'ou  will  find 
me  liere  is  more  than  I  can  say." 

Tlie  boy  went  away,  much  impressed  by  so  elaborate  and  formal 
a  parting"  which  seemed  to  liim  a  sign  that,  in  his  parlance,  "the 
guv'nor  was  going  to  make  a  bolt  of  "if."  Leander  busied  himself 
in  some  melancholy  ]>reparations  for  his  impending  departure,  dis- 
solution, or  incarceration:  he  was  not  very  clear  which  it  might  be. 

He  went  down  and  put  his  "  labatrj- "  in  order.  There  he  had 
worked  with  all  the  liery  zeal  of  an  inventor  at  the  discoveries 
which  were  to  confer  perpetual  youth,  in  various-sized  bottles, 
upon  a  grateful  world.  He  must  leave  them  all,  with  his  work 
scarcel}'  beirun!  Another  would  step  in  and  perfect  what  he  had 
left  incomplete. 

He  came  up  again,  with  a  heavy  heart,  and  examined  his  till. 
There  was  not  much;  enough,  however,  for  William's  wages  and 
nny  small  debts.  He  made  a  list  of  these,  and  left  it  there  with  the 
coin.  "  They  must  settle  it  among  tliemselves,"  he  thought  wearily; 
"  I  can't  be  bothered  witli  business  now." 

He  was  thinking  whether  it  was  worth  while  to  shut  the  shop  up 
or  not,  when  a  clear  voice  sounded  from  above:  "  Leander,  where 
art  thou?  Come  hither!"  And  he  started  as  if  he  had  been  shot. 
"  I'm  coming,  madam,"  he  called  up,  obsequiousl3^  "  I'll  be  "with 
you  in  one  minute!" 

"Now  for  it."  he  thought,  as  he  went  up  to  his  sitting-room. 
"  I  wish  I  wasu  t  all  of  a  twitter.  I  wish  I  knew  what  was  coming 
next!" 

The  room  was  dark,  but  when  he  got  a  light  he  saw  the  statue 
standing  in  the  center  of  the  room,  her  hood  thrown  back  and  the 
fur-lined  mantle  hanging  loosely  about  her;  the  face  looked  stern 
and  terrible  under  its  brilliant  tint.  • 

"  Have  you  made  your  choice?"  she  demanded. 

"  Choice!"  he  said.     "  I  haven't  any  choice  left  me!" 

"  It  is  true,"  she  said,  triumphantly.  "  Your  friends  have  deserted 
you;  mortals  are  banded  together  to  seize  and  disgrace  you;  you 
have  no  refuge  but  with  me.  But  time  is  short.  C(mie,  then,  place 
yourself  within  the  shelter  of  these  arms,  and  while  they  infold  you 
tight  in  their  marble  embrace,  repeat  after  me  liie  words  which  com- 
plete my  power." 

"  There's  no  partickler  hurry,"  he  objected.  "  I  will  directly.  I 
— I  only  want  to  know  what  will  happen  when  I've  done  it.  You 
can't  have  any  objection  to  a  natural  curiosity  like  that." 

'•  You  will  lose  consciousness,  to  recover  it  in  balmy  Cyprus,  with 


THE    TINTED    TENUS.  95 

Aphrodite  (no  longer  cold  marble,  but  the  actual  goddess,  warm 
and  living)  b}^  your  side!  Ah !  impervious  one,  can  you  linger  still? 
Do  you  not  tremble  witii  haste  to  feel  ray  breath  fanning  your  cheek, 
my  soft  arm  around  your  neck?  Are  not  your  eyes  already  dazzled 
by  the  gleam  of  my  golden  tresses?" 

"  Well,  1  can't  say  they  are;  not  at  present," said  Leander.  "  And 
you  see,  it's  all  very  well;  but,  as  I  asked  you  once  before,  how  are 
you  going  to  get  me  there?  It's  a  long  way,  and  I'm  ten  stone  if  I'm 
an  ounce." 

"  Heavy- witted  youth,  it  is  not  your  body  that  will  taste  perennial 
bliss." 

"  And  what's  to  become  of  that,  then?"  he  asked,  anxiously. 

"  That  will  be  left  here,  clasped  to  this  stone,  itself  as  cold  and 
lifeless." 

"Oh!"  said  Leander,  "  I  didn't  bargain  for  that,  and  I  don't  like 
it." 

"  You  will  know  nothing  of  it;  you  will  be  with  me.  in  dreamy 
grottoes  strewn  with  fragrant  rushes  and  the  new-stript  leaves  of 
the  vine,  where  the  warm  air  wooes  to  repose  with  its  languorous 
softness,  and  the  water  as  it  wells  murmurs  its  liquid  laughter.  Ah! 
no  Greek  would  have  hesitated  thus." 

"Well,  I  ain't  a  Greek;  and,  as  a  business  man,  you  can't  be 
surprised  if  1  want  to  make  sure  it's  a  genuine  thing,  and  worth  the 
risk,  before  I  commit  myself.  I  think  I  understand  that  it's  the 
gold  ring  which  is  to  bind  us  two  together?" 

"It  is,"  she  said;  "by  that  pure  and  noble  metal  are  we 
united." 

"Well,"  said  Leander,  "  that  being  so,  I  should  wish  to  have  it 
tested,  else  there  might  be  a  hitch  somewhere  or  other," 

"  Tested ! "  she  cried ;   "  what  is  that?" 

"Trying  it,  to  see  if  it's  real  gold  or  not,"  he  said.  "W^e  can 
easily  liave  it  done." 

"it  is  needless."  she  replied,  haughtily.  "I  will  not  suffer  my 
power  to  be  thus  doubted,  nor  that  of  the  pure  and  precious  metal 
through  which  I  have  obtained  it!" 

Leander  might  have  objected  to  this  as  an  example  of  that  ob- 
scure feat,  "begging  the  question;"  for,  whether  the  metal  was 
pure  and  precious  was  precisely  the  point  he  desired  to  ascertain. 
And  this  desire  was  quite  genuine:  for,  though  he  saw  no  other 
course  before  him  but  that  upon  which  the  goddess  insisted,  he  did 
wish  to  take  every  reasonable  precaution, 

"  For  all  I  know,"  he  reasoned  in  his  own  mind,  "  if  tliere's  any- 
thing wrong  with  tliat  ring,  I  may  be  left  'igh  and  dry,  lialf-way  to 
Cyprus;  or  she  may  get  tired  of  me,  and  turn  me  out  of  those  grot- 
toes of  hers!  If  I  must  go  with  her,  I  should  like  to  make  thmga 
as  safe  as  I  could." 

"It  won't  take  long,"  he  pleaded;  "and  if  I  find  the  ring's  real 
gold,  I  promise  1  won't  hold  out  any  longer." 

"There  is  no  time,"  she  sfiid,  "to  indulge  this  wljim.  Would 
you  mock  me,  Leander?     Ha!   did  1  not  say  so?     Listen!" 

The  private  bell  was  ringing  loudly.  Leander  rushed  to  the  win- 
dow,  but  saw  no  one.     Then  he  heard  the  clang  of  the  shop  bell,  as 


96  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

if  the  person  or  persons  had  discovered  that  an  entrance  was  pos- 
sible there. 

"The  guards!"  said  the  statue.  "Will  you  wait  for  them, 
Leander?" 

"  No!"  he  cried.  "  Never  mind  what  I  said  about  the  ring;  I'll 
risk  that.  Only— only,  don't  go  away  without  me.  Tell  me  what 
to  say,  and  I'll  say  it,  and  chance  the  consequences!" 

"  Say:  'Aphrodite,  daughter  of  Olympian  Zeus,  I  yield;  I  fultiU 
thejiledge;  I  am  thine!'" 

"  Well,"  he  thought,  "here  goes.  Oh,  Matilda,  you're  responsi- 
ble for  this!"  And  he  advanced  toward  the  white  extended  arms 
of  the  goddess.  There  were  hasty  steps  outside;  another  moment 
and  the  door  would  be  burst  open. 

"  'Aphrodite,  daughter  of — '"  he  began,  and  recoiled  suddenly; 
for  he  heard  his  name  called  from  without  in  a  voice  familiar  and 
once  dear  to  him. 

"  Leander,  where  are  you?  It's  all  dark!  Speak  to  me;  tell  me 
you've  done  nothing  rash!     Oh,  Leander,  it's  Matilda!" 

That  voice,  which  a  short  while  back  he  would  have  given  the 
world  to  hear  once  more,  appalled  him  now.  For  if  she  came  in, 
the  goddess  would  discover  who  she  was,  and  then — he  shuddered 
to  think  what  might  happen  tlien! 

Matilda's  liand  was  actually  on  the  door.  "Stop  where  you 
Kre!"  he  shouted,  in  despair;  "  for  mercy's  sake,  don't  come  in!" 

"  Ah!  you  are  there,  and  alive! "'  she  cried.  "  I  am  not  loo  late; 
svnd  I  will  come  in!" 

And  in  another  instant  she  burst  into  the  room,  and  stood  there, 
ber  tear  stained  face  convulsed  with  the  horror  of  finding  him  in 
such  company. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE   THIRTEENTH  TRUMP. 

Your  adversary,  having  thus  secured  the  lead  with  the  last  trump,  you  will 
be  powerless  to  prevent  the  bringing-in  of  the  long  suit.— Rough's  Guide  to 
Whist. 

What !  thinkest  thou  that  utterly  in  vain 

Jove  is  my  sire,  and  in  despite  my  will 

That  thou  canst  mock  me  with  thj-  beauty  still. 

Story  of  Cupid  and  Psyche. 

Leander,  when  he  wrote  his  distracted  appeal  to  ^Matilda,  took 
it  for  granted  that  she  had  recognized  the  statue  for  something  of  a 
s-upernatural  order,  and  this,  combined  with  his  perplexed  state  of 
mind,  caused  him  to  be  less  explicit  than  he  might  have  been  in  re- 
ferring to  the  goddess's  ill-timed  appearance. 

But,  unfortunate!}',  as  will  probably  have  been  already  antici- 
pated, the  only  result  of  this  reticence  was,  that  Matilda  saw  in  his 
letter  an  abject  entreaty  for  her  consent  to  his  marriage  with  Ada 
Parkinson,  to  avoid  legal  proceedings,  and,  under  this  misapprehen- 
sion, she  wrote  the  line  that  abandoned  all  claims  upon  him,  and 
then  went  on  with  her  accounts,  which  were  not  so  neatly  kept  that 
(lay  as  usual. 

What  she  felt  most  keenly  in  Leander's  conduct  was,  that  he 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  97 

should  have  placed  the  ring,  which  to  all  intent  was  her  own,  upon 
the  finger  of  another.  She  could  not  bear  to  think  of  so  unfeeling 
an  act,  and  yet  she  thought  of  it  all  through  the  long  day,  as  she  sat, 
outwardly  serene,  at  her  high  desk,  whilst  her  attendants  at  her  side 
made  up  sprays  for  dances  and  wreaths  for  funerals  from  the  same 
flowers. 

And  at  last  she  felt  herself  urged  to  a  course  which,  in  her  ordi- 
nary mind,  she  would  have  shrunk  from  as  a  lowering  of  her  per- 
sonal dignity:  she  would  go  and  see  her  rival,  and  insist  that  this 
particular  humiliation  should  be  spared  her.  The  ring  was  not 
Leander's  to  dispose  of — at  least,  to  dispose  of  thus;  it  was  not 
right  that  any  but  herself  should  wear  it;  and,  though  the  token 
could  never  now  be  devoted  to  its  rightful  use,  she  wanted  to  save 
it  from  what,  in  her  eyes,  was  a  kind  of  profanation. 

She  would  not  own  it  to  herself,  but  there  was  a  motive  stronger 
than  all  this — the  desire  to  relieve  her  breast  of  some  of  the  indigna- 
tion which  was  choking  her,  and  of  which  her  pride  forbade  any 
betrayal  to  Leander  himself. 

This  other  woman  had  supplanted  her;  but  she  should  be  made 
to  feel  the  wrong  she  had  done,  and  her  triumph  should  be  tem- 
pered with  shame,  if  she  were  capable  of  such  a  sensation.  Matilda 
knew  very  well  that  the  ring  w^as  not  hers,  and  she  wanted  it  no 
longer;  but,  then,  it  was  Miss  Tweddle's,  and  she  would  claim  it 
in  her  name. 

She  easily  obtained  permission  to  leave  somewhat  earlier  that 
evening,  as  she  did  not  often  ask  such  favors,  and  soon  found  her- 
self at  Madame  Chenille's  establishment,  where  she  remembered  to 
have  heard  from  Bella  that  her  sister  was  employed. 
«  She  asked  for  the  forewoman,  and  begged  to  be  allowed  to  speak 
to  Miss  Parkinson  in  private  for  a  verylew^  minutes;  but  the  fore- 
woman referred  her  to  the  proprietress,  who  made  objections;  such 
a  thing  was  never  permitted  during  business  hours,  the  shop  would 
close  in  an  hour,  till  then  Miss  Parkinson  was  engaged  in  the  show- 
room, and  so  on. 

But  Matilda  carried  her  point  at  last,  and  was  shown  to  a  room 
in  the  basement,  where  the  assistants  took  their  meals,  there  to  wait 
until  Miss  Parkinson  could  be  spared  from  her  duties. 

Matilda  waited  in  the  low,  dingy  room,  where  the  tea-things  were 
still  littering  the  table,  and  as  she  paced  restlessly  about,  trying  to 
feel  an  interest  in  the  long-discarded  fashion-plates  wliicli  adorned 
the  walls,  her  ang^r  began  to  cool,  and  give  place  to  something  very 
like  nervousnessr 

She  wislied  she  had  not  come.  What,  after  all,  was  she  to  say 
to  this  girl  when  they  met?  And  what  was  Leander — base  and 
unworthy  as  he  had  'shown  himself — to  her  any  longer?  Why 
should  she  care  what  he  chose  to  do  with  the  ring?  And  he 
would  be  told  of  her  visit,  and  think —  No!  that  was  intolerable: 
she  would  not  gratify  his  vanity  and  humble  lierself  in  this  way. 
She  would  slip  quietly  out,  and  feavc  her  rival  to  enjoy  her  victory! 

But  just  as  she  was  going  to  carry  out  this  intention,  the  door 
opened,  and  a  short,  dark  young  woman  appeared.  "  I'm  told  there 
was  a  young  person  asking  to  speak  to  me,"  she  said:  "  I'm  Ada 
Parkinson." 

4 


98  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

At  the  name  Matilda's  heart  swelled  again  with  the  sense  of  her 
injuries;  and  yet  she  was  unprepared  for  the  face  that  met  her  eyes. 
Surely  her  rival  had  both  looked  and  spoken  differently  the  night 
before?  And  yet  she  had  been  so  agitated  that  very  likely  her  rec- 
ollections were  not  to  be  depended  upon. 

"I — I  did  want  to  see  you,"  she  said,  and  her  voice  shook,  as 
much  from  timidity  as  righteous  indignation,  "When  I  tell  you 
who  I  am,  periiaps  you  will  guess  why.     I  am  Matilda  CoUum." 

Miss  Parkinson  showed  no  symptoms  of  remorse. 

"  What!"  she  cried,  "  the  young  lady  that  Mr.  Tweddle  is  court- 
ing?   Fancy!" 

"  After  what  happened  last  night,"  said  Matilda,  trembling  ex- 
ceedingly, "you  know  that  that  is  all  over.  1  didn't  come  to  talk 
about  that.  If  you  knew — and  I  think  you  must  have  known — all 
that  Mr.  Tweddle  was  to  me,  you  have — you  have  not  behaved  very 
well;  but  he  is  nothing  to  me  any  more,  and  it  is  not  worth  while 
to  be  angry.  Only,  I  don't  think  you  ought  to  keep  the  ring — not 
that  ring!" 

"  Goodness  gracious  me!"  cried  Ada.  "  What  in  the  world  is  all 
this  about?     What  ring  oughtn't  I  to  keep?" 

"You  know!"  retorted  Matilda.  "  How  can  you  pretend  like 
that?     The  ring  he  gave  you  that  night  at  Roshcrwich!" 

"  Tiie  girl  is  mad!"  exclaimed  the  other.  "  He  never  gave  me  a 
ring  in  all  his  life!  I  wouldn't  have  taken  it,  if  he'd  asked  me  ever 
so.     Mr.  Twedole,  indeed!" 

"  Why  do  you  say  that?"  said  Matilda.  "  He  has  not  got  it  liim- 
self,  and  your  sister  said  he  gave  it  to  you,  and — and  I  saw  it  with 
my  own  eyes  on  your  hand ! " 

"Oh,  dear  me!"  said  Ada,  petulantly,  holding  out  her  hand, 
"look  there— is  that  it?— is  this?  Well,  these  "are  all  I  have, 
whether  you  believe  me  or  not;  one  belonged  to  poor  mother,  and 
the  other  was  a  present,  only  last  Frida}',  from  the  gentleman 
that's  their  head  traveler,  next  door,  and  is  going  to  be  my  hus- 
band. Is  it  likely  I  should  be  wearing  any  other  now? — ask  your- 
self!" 

"  You  wouldn't  wish  to  deceive  me  I  hope,"  said  Matilda;  "  and 
oh!  IMiss  Parkinson,  you  might  be  open  with  me,  for  I'm  so  very 
miserable!  I  don't  know  what  to  think.  Tell  me  just  this:  did  you 
— wasn't  it  you  who  came  last  night  to  Miss  Tweddle's?" 

"  No!"  returned  Ada,  impatiently — "  no,  as  many  times  as  3'ou 
please!  And  if  Bella  likes  to  say  I  did,  she  may^  and  she  always 
was  a  mischief-making  thing!  How  could  I,  when  i  didn't  knoV 
there  was  any  Miss  Tweddle  to  come  to?  And  what  do  you  sup- 
pose I  should  go  running  about  after  j\Ir.  Tweddle  for?  I  wonder 
you're  not  ashamed  to  say  such  things!" 

"  But,"  faltered  Matilda,  "you  did  go  to  those  gardens  with  him, 
didn't  you?     And — and  I  know  he  gave  the  ring  to  somebody!" 

Ada  began  to  laugh.  "  You're  quite  correct.  Miss  Collum,"  she 
said,  "  so  he  did.     Don't  you  want  to  know  who  he  gave  it  to?" 

"  Yes,"  said  Matilda,  "  and  you  will  tell  me.  1  have  a  right  to 
be  told.  I  was  engaged  to  him,  and  the  ring  was  given  to  him  for 
me— not  for  any  one  else.  You  will  tell  me,  Miss  Parkinson,  I  am 
sure  you  will?" 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  99 

''"Well,"  said  Ada,  still  kugbing,  "  I'll  tell  you  this  much— she's 
a  foreign  lady,  ver}^  stiff  and  stuclv-up  and  cold.  She's  got  it,  if 
any  one  has.     I  saw  him  put  it  on  myself!" 

"  Tell  me  her  name,  if  you  know  it." 

"  T  see  you  won't  be  easy  till  you  know  all  about  it.  Her  name's 
Afriddity  or  Fi oddity,  or  sometliing outlandish  like  that.  She  lives 
at  Rosherwich,  a  good  deal  in  the  open  air,  and — there,  don't  be 
ridiculous — it's  onlv  a  statue!  There's  a  pretty  thing  to  be  jealous 
of!" 

"  Only  a  statue!"  echoed  Matilda.  "Oh!  Heaven  be  with  us  both, 
if — if  that  was  it!" 

Certain  sentences  in  the  letter  she  had  returned  came  to  her  mind 
■with  a  new  and  dreadful  significance.  The  appearance  of  the 
visitor  last  night — Leander's  terror — all  seemed  to  point  to  some 
unsuspected  mystery. 

"  It  can't  be — no  it  can't!  Miss  Parkinson,  you  were  there:  tell 
me  all  that  happened,  quick!  You  don't  know  what  may  depend 
on  it!" 

"What!  not  satisfied  even  now?"  cried  Ada.  "Well,  Miss  Col - 
lum,  talk  about  jealousy!  But,  there,  I'll  tell  you  all  I  know  my- 
self." 

And  she  gave  the  whole  account  of  the  episode  with  the  statue, 
so  far  as  she  knew  it,  even  to  the  conversation  which  led  to  the  pro- 
duction of  the  ring. 

"  You  see,"  she  concluded,  "  that  it  was  all  on  your  account  that 
he  tried  it  on  at  all,  and  I'm  sure  he  talked  enough  about  you  all 
the  evening.  I  really  was  a  little  surprised  when  I  found  you  were 
his  Miss  Collum.  (You  won't  mind  m}^  saying  so?)  If  I  was  you, 
I  should  go  and  tell  him  I  forgave  him  now\  I  do  think  he  de- 
serves it,  poor  little  man!" 

"Yes,  yes!"  cried  Matilda;  "I'll  go — I'll  go  at  once!  Thank 
you.  Miss  Parkinson,  for  telling  me  what  you  have!"  And  then, 
as  she  remembered  some  dark  hints  in  Leander's  letter:  "Oh,  I 
must  make  haste!  He  may  be  going  to  do  something  desperate — 
he  may  have  done  it  already!" 

And,  leaving  Miss  Parkinson  to  speculate  as  she  pleased  concern- 
ing her  eccentricity,  she  went  out  into  the  broad  street  again;  and, 
unaccustomed  as  she  was  to  such  expenditure,  hailed  a  hansom;  for 
there  was  no  time  to  be  lost. 

She  had  told  the  man  to  drive  to  the  Southampton  Row  Passage 
at  first,  but,  as  she  drew  nearer,  she  changed  her  purpose;  she  did 
not  like  to  go  alone,  for  who  knew  what  she  might  see  there?  It 
was  out  of  the  question  to  expect  her  mother  to  accompany  her,  but 
her  friend  and  landlady  w^ould  not  refuse  to  do  so:  and  she  drove 
to  Millman  Street,  and  prevailed  on  MissTweddle  to  come  with  her 
without  a  moment's  delay. 

The  two  women  found  the  shop  dark,  but  unshuttered;  there 
was  a  light  in  the  upper  room.  "You  stay  down  here,  please," 
said  Matilda;  "  if  — if  anything  is  wrong,  I  will  call  you."  And 
Miss  Tweddle,  without  very  well  understanding  what  it  was  all 
about,  and  feeling  fluttered  and  out  of  breath,  was  willing  enough 
to  sit  down  in  the  saloon  and  recover  herself. 

And  so  it  came  to  pass  that  Matilda  burst  into  the  room  just  qa 


100  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

the  hair-dresser  was  preparing  to  pronounce  the  inevitable  words 
that  would  complete  the  goddess's  power.  He  stood  there,  pale 
and  disheveled,  with  eyes  that  were  wild  and  bordered  with  red. 
Opposite  to  him  was  the  being  she  had  once  mistaken  for  a  fellow- 
creature. 

Too  well  she  saw  now  that  the  tall  and  queenly  form,  with  the 
fixed  eyes  and  cold  tinted  mask,  was  inspired  by  nothing  human; 
and  her  heart  died  within  her  as  she  gazed,  spell- bound,' upon  her 
formidable  rival. 

"  Leander,"  she  murmured,  supporting  herself  against  the  frame 
of  the  door,  "  what  are  you  going  to  do?" 

"  Keep  back,  jMatilda!"  he  cried,  desperately ;  "  go  away — it's  too 
late  now!" 

A  moment  before,  and,  deserted  as  he  believed  himself  to  be  by 
love  and  fortune  alike,  he  had  been  almost  resigned  to  the  strange 
and  sliadowy  future  which  lay  before  him;  but  now — now  that  lie 
saw  Matilda  there  in  his  room,  no  longer  scornful  or  indifferent,  but 
pale  and  concerned,  her  pretty  gray  eyes  dark  and  wide  with  anguish 
and  fear  for  him — he  felt  all  he  was  giving  up;  he  had  a  sudden 
revulsion,  a  violent  repugnance  to  his  doom. 

She  loved  him  still!  She  had  repented  for  some  reason.  Oh! 
why  had  slie  not  done  so  before?  What  could  he  do  now?  For 
her  own  sake  he  must  steel  himself  to  tell  her  to  leave  him  to 
his  fate;  for  he  knew  well  that  if  the  goddess  were  to  discover 
Matilda's  real  relations  to  him  it  might  cost  his  innocent  darling 
her  life! 

For  the  moment  he  rose  above  his  ordinary  level.  He  lost  all 
thought  of  self.  Let  Aphrodite  take  him  if  she  would,  but  Matilda 
musf  be  saved.  "Go  away!"  he  repeated;  and  his  voice  was 
cracked  and  harsh,  under  the  strain  of  doing  such  violence  to  his 
feelings.  "  Can't  you  see  you're — you're  not  wanted?  Oh,  do  go 
away — while  you  can ! " 

Matilda  closed  the  door  behind  her.  "Do  you  think,"  she  said, 
catchins;  her  breath  painfully,  "  that  I  shall  go  away  and  leave  j'ou 
with  Tliat ! " 

"  Leander."  said  the  statue,  "command  your  sister  to  depart!" 

"I'm  not  his  " — Matilda  was  beginning  impetuously,  till  the  hair- 
dresser stopped  her. 

''You  are  I''  he  cried.  "You  know  you're  my  sister— you've 
forgotten  it,  that's  all.  Don't  say  a  syllable  now,  do  you  hear  me? 
She's  going.  Lady  Venus,  going  directly!" 

"  Indeed  I'm  not,"  said  Matilda,  bravely. 

"  Leave  us,  maiden!"  said  the  statue.  "Your  brother  is  yours 
no  longer,  he  is  mine.  Know  you  who  it  is  that  commands? 
Tremble,  then,  nor  oppose  the  will  of  Aphrodite  of  the  radiant 
eyes!" 

'^"  I  never  heard  of  you  before,"  said  Matilda,  "but  I'm  not 
afraid  of  you.  And,  whoever  or  whatever  you  are,  you  shall  not 
take  my  Leander  away  against  his  will.  Do  you  hear?  You 
could  never  be  allowed  to  do  that!" 

The  statue  smiled  with  pitying  scorn.  "  His  own  act  has  given 
me  the  power  I  hold,"  she  said,  "  and  assuredly  he  shall  not  escape 
me!" 


THE    TlisTED    YENUS.  101 

"  Listen,"  pleaded  Matilda;  "  perhaps  you  are  not  really  -wicked, 
it  is  only  that  you  don't  know !  The  ring  he  put — without  ever 
thinking  what  he  was  doing — on  your  finger  was  meant  for  mine. 
It  was,  really!     He  is  my  lover;  give  him  back  to  me!" 

"^Matilda!"  shrieked  the  wretched  man,  "you  don't  know  what 
you're  doing.     Run  away,  quick!     Do  as  I  tell  you!" 

"So,"  says  the  goddess,  turning  upon  him,  "in  this,  too,  you 
have  tried  to  deceive  me !  You  have  loved — you  still  love — this 
maiden!" 

"Oh,  not  in  that  way!"  he  shouted,  overcome  by  his  terror  for 
Matilda.  "  There's  some  mistake.  You  mustn't  pay  any  attention 
to  what  she  says;  she's  excited.  All  my  sisters  get  like  that  when 
they're  excited — they'd  say  cmythingl" 

"  Silence!"  commanded  the  statue.  "  Should  not  I  have  skill  to 
read  the  signs  of  love?  This  girl  loves  you  with  no  sister's  love. 
Deny  it  not ! " 

Leander  felt  that  his  position  was  becoming  untenable ;  he  could 
only  save  Matilda  by  a  partial  abandonment.  "  Well,  suppose  she 
does,"  he  said,  "I'm  not  obliged  to  return  it,  am  I?" 

Matilda  shrunk  back.  "  Oh,  Leander!"  she  cried,  with  a  piteous 
little  moan. 

"  You've  brought  it  on  yourself!"  he  said;  "you  will  come  here 
interfering!" 

"  Interfering!"  she  repeated  wildly,  "  you  call  it  that!  How  can 
I  help  myself?  Am  I  to  stand  by  and  see  you  giving  yourself  up 
to,  nobody  can  tell  what?  As  long  as  I  have  strength  to  move  and 
breath  to  speak  I  shall  stay  here,  and  beg  and  pray  of  yon  not  to  be 
so  foolish  and  wicked  as  to  go  away  with  her!  How  do  you  know 
where  she  will  take  you  to?" 

"  Cease  this  railing!"  said  the  statue.  "Leander  loves  you  not! 
Away,  then,  before  I  lay  you  dead  at  my  feet!" 

"  Leander,"  cried  the  poor  girl,  "tell  me:  it  isn't  true  what  she 
says?  You  didn't  mean  it l^you  (^  love  me!  You  don't  really  want 
me  to  go  away? 

For  her  own  sake  he  must  be  cruel;  but  he  could  scarcely  speak 
the  words  that  were  to  drive  her  from  his  side  forever.  "  This — 
this  lady,"  he  said,  "  speaks  quite  correct.  I — I'd  very  much  rather 
you  went!" 

She  drew  a  deep  sobbing  breath.  "  I  don't  care  for  anything  any 
more!"  she  said,  and  faced  the  statue  defiantly.  "You  say  you 
can  strike  me  dead,"  she  said:  "  I'm  sure  I  hope  you  can!  And  the 
sooner  the  better— for  I  will  not  leave  this  room!" 

The  dreamy  smile  still  curved  the  statue's  lips,  in  terrible  contrast 
to  the  inflexible  purpose  of  her  next  words. 

"  You  have  called  down  your  own  destruction,"  she  said,  "and 
death  shall  be  yours!" 

"  Stop  a  bit,"  cried  Leander,  "  mind  what  you're  doing!  Do  you 
think  I'll  go  with  you  if  you  touch  a  single  hair  of  my  poor  Tiliie's 
head?  Why,  I'd  sooner  stay  in  prison  all  my  life!  See  here,"  and 
he  put  his  arm  round  Matilda's  slight  form;  "  if  you  crush  her,  you 
crush  me — so  now ! " 

"  And  if  so,"  said  the  goddess,  with  cruel  contempt,  "  are  you  of 
such  value  in  my  sight  that  I  should  stay  my  hand?    You,  whom 


103  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

I  have  sovip:ht  but  to  manifest  my  power,  for  no  softer  feelings  have 
you  ever  inspired!  And  now,  havino;  withstood  me  for  so  long, 
you  turn,  even  at  the  moment  of  yielding,  to  yonder  creature!  And 
it  is  enougli.  I  will  contend  no  longer  ifor  so  mean  a  prize?  Slave 
and  fool  that  you  have  shown  yourself,  Aphrodite  rejects  you  in 
disdain!" 

Leander  made  no  secret  of  his  satisfaction  at  this.  "Now  you 
talk  sense!"  he  cried;  "I  always  told  you  we  weren't  suited.  Til- 
lie,  do  you  hear?     She  gives  me  up!     She  gives  me  up!" 

"Ay,"  she  continued,  "I  need  you  not.  Upon  you  and  the 
maiden  by  your  side  I  invoke  a  speed}^  and  terrible  destrnclioa, 
which,  ere  you  can  attempt  to  flee,  shdl  surel}'  overtake  you!" 

Leander  was  so  overcome  by  this  highly  imexpected  sentence 
that  he  lost  all  control  over  his  limbs;  he  could  only  stand  where 
he  was,  supporting  Matilda,  and  stare  at  the  goddess  in  fascinated 
dismay. 

The  goddess  was  raising  both  hands,  palm  upward,  to  the  ceil- 
ing, and  presently  she  began  to  chant  in  a  thrilling  monotone: 
"Ilcar,  O  Zeus,  that  sii.test  on  high,  delighting  in  the  thunder, 
hear  the  prayer  of  thy  daughter.  Aphrodite  the  peerless,  as  she 
calleth  upon  thee,  nor  suffer  her  to  be  set  at  naught  with  impuidty! 
Rise  now,  I  beseech  thee,  and  hurl  with  thine  unerring  hand  a 
blazing  bolt  that  shall  consume  these  presumptuous  insects  to  a 
smoking  cinder!  Blast  them.  Sire,  with  the  lire-wreaths  of  thy 
lightning!   blast,  and  spare  not.!" 

"Kiss  me,  Tillie,  and  shut  your  eyes,"  said  Leander,  "it's  com- 
ing!" 

She  was  nestling  close  against  him,  and  could  not  repress  a  faint 
shivering  moan.  "1  don't  mind,  now  we're  together,"  she  whis- 
pered, "  if  only  it  won't  hurt  much!" 

The  prayer  uttered  with  such  deadly  intensity  had  almost  ceased 
to  vibrate  in  their  ears,  but  still  the  answer  tarried;  it  tarried  so  long 
that  Leander  lost  patience,  and  ventured  to  open  his  eyes  a  little 
way.  He  saw  the  goddess  standing  there,  with  a  strained  expecta- 
tion on  her  upturne(l  face. 

"I  don't  wish  to  hurry  you,  mum,"  he  said,  tremulously;  "  but 
you  ought  to  be  above  torturing  us.  ]\Iight  I  ask  yon  to  request 
your — your  relation  to  look  sharp  with  that  thunder-boll?" 

"Zeus!"  cried  the  goddess,  and  her  accent  was  more  acute, 
"thou  hast  heard — thou  wilt  not  shame  me  thus!  Must  I  go  un- 
avenged?" 

Still  nothing  whatever  ^happened,  until  at  last  even  Matilda  un- 
closed her  eyes.  "Leander!"  she  cried,  with  a  hysterical  little 
laugh,  "  7  don't  believe  she  can  doit !" 

"  No  more  don't  I!"  said  the  hnir-dresser,  withdrawing  his  arm, 
and  coming  forward  boldly.  "Now  look  here.  Lady  Venus,"  he 
remarked,  "it's  time  there  was  an  end  of  this,  one  way  or  the 
other;  we  can't  be  kept  up  here  all  night,  waiting  till  it  suits  your 
Mr.  Zooce  to  make  cockshies  of  us.  Either  let  him  do  it  now,  or 
let  it  alone!" 

Tlie  statue's  face  seemed  tn  be  illumined  by  a  stronger  light. 
"Zeus,  I  thank  thee!"  she  exclaimed,  clasping  her  pale  hands  above 
her  head ;  "  1  am  answered  i  I  am  answered  1 " 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  103 

And,  as  she  spoke,  a  dull  ominous  rumble  was  heard  in  the  dis- 
tance. 

•'Matilda,  here!"  cried  the  terrified  hair-dresser,  running  back 
to  his  betrothed;   " keep  close  to  me.     It's  all  over  this limel" 

The  rumble  increased  to  a  roll,  which  became  a  clanking  rattle, 
and  then  lessened  again  to  a  roll,  di.ed  away  to  the  original  rumble, 
and  was  heard  no  more. 

Leander  breathed  again.  "To  think  of  my  being  taken  in  like 
that!"  he  cried.  "  \Vhy,  it's  only  a  van  out  in  the  street!  It's  no 
good,  mum;  you  can't  work  it;  you'd  better  give  it  up!" 

The  goddess  seemed  to  feel  this  herself,  for  she  was  wringing  her 
hands  with  a  low  wail  of  despair.  "  Is  there  none  to  hear?'*  she 
lamented.  "  Are  they  all  gone— all?  Then  is  Aphrodite  fallen  in- 
deed; deserted  of  the  gods,  her  kinsmen;  forgotten  of  mortals; 
braved  and  mocked  by  such  as  these!  Woe!  woe!  for  Olympus  in 
ruins,  and  Time  the  dethroner  of  deities!" 

Leander  would  hardly  have  been  himself  if  he  had  forborne  to 
take  advantage  of  her  discomfiture.  "  You  see,  mum,"  he  said» 
"  you're  not  everybody.  You  mustn't  expect  to  have  everything 
your  own  way  down  here.  We're  in  the  nineteenth  century  nowa- 
days, mum,  and  there's  another  religion  come  in  since  you  were  the 
fashion!" 

'' Dont,  Leander,"  said  Matilda,  in  an  undertone;  "let  her  alone, 
the  poor  thing!"  She  seemed  to  have  quite  forgotten  that  her 
fallen  enemy  had  been  dooming  her  to  destruction  the  moment 
before;  but  there  was  something  so  tragic  and  moving  in  the  sight 
of  such  despair  that  no  true  woman  could  be  indifferent  to  it. 

Either  the  taunt  or  the  compassion,  however,  roused  the  goddess 
to  a  frenzy  of  passion.  "  Hold  your  peace !"^she  said  fiercely,  and 
strode  down  upon  Leander  until  he  beat  an  instinctive  retreat. 
"  Fallen  as  I  am,  I  will  not  brook  your  mean  vauntings  or  insolent 
pity!  Sliorn  1  may  be  of  my  ancient  power,  but  something  of  my 
divinity  cleaves  to  me  still.  Vengeance  is  not  wlioU}^ denied  tome! 
Why  should  I  not  deal  with  you  even  as  with  those  profane  wretches 
who  laid  impious  hands  upon  this,  my  effigy?     Why?  why?" 

Leander  began  to  feel  uncomfortable  again.  "If  I've  said  any- 
thino;  j-ou  object  to,"  he  said,  hastily,  "  I'll  apologize.  I  will— and  so 
wiirMaiilda— freely  and  full;  in  writing,  if  that  will  satisfy  you!" 

"  Tremble  not  for  your  worthless  bodies,"  she  said;  "  iiad  you 
been  slain,  as  I  purposed,  you  would  but  have  escaped  me,  after  all! 
Now,  a  vengeance  keener  and  more  enduring  shall  be  mine!  In 
your  gross  blindness  you  have  dared  to  turn  from  divine  Aphrodite 
to  such  a  thing  as  this,  and  for  your  impiety  you  shall  suffer!  This 
is  your  doom,  and  so  much  at  least  I  can  still  accomplish:  Long  as 
you  both  may  live,  strong  as  your  love  mny  endure,  never  again  shall 
you  see  her  alone,  never  more  shall  she  be  folded  to  your  breast  I 
Forever  I  will  I  stand  a  barrier  between  you:  so  shall  your  days 
consume  away  in  the  torturing  desire  for  a  felicity  you  may  never 
attain!" 

"It  seems  to  me,  Tillie,"  said  Leander,  looking  round  at  her  with 
hollow  eyes,  "  that  we  may  as  well  give  up  keeping  company  to- 
gether, after  that  I  ' 


104  THE    TINTED    VEKUS. 

Matilda  had  been  weeping  quietly.  "Oh,  no,  Leander,  not  that. 
Don't  let  us  give  each  other  up;  we  may — we  may  get  used  to  it!" 

"  That  is  not  all,"  said  the  revengeful  goddess.  "  I  understand 
but  little  of  the  ways  of  this  degenerate  age.  But  one  thing  I  know : 
this  very  night  guards  are  on  their  way  to  search  this  abode  for  the 
image  in  which  I  have  chosen  to  reveal  myself;  and,  should  they 
find  that  they  are  in  search  of  you,  you  will  be  dragged  to  some 
dungeon  and  suffer  deserved  ignominy.  It  pleased  me  yesternight 
to  shield  you :  to-night  be  very  sure  that  this  marble  form  shall  not 
escape  their  vigilance ! " 

He  felt  at  once  that  this,  at  least,  was  no  idle  threat.  The  police 
might  arrive  at  any  instant ;  she  had  only  to  vacate  the  marble  at 
the  moment  of  their  entry — and  what  could  he  do?  How  could  he 
explain  its  presence?  The  gates  of  Portland  or  Dartmoor  were  al- 
ready yawning  to  receive  him!  Was  it  too  late,  even  then,  to  re- 
trieve the  situation?  "  If  it  wasn't  for  Tillle,  I  could  see  my  way 
to  something,  even  now,"  he  thought.     "  I  can  but  try!" 

"Lady  Venus,"  he  began,  clearing  his  throat,  "it's  not  my  desire 
to  be  the  architect  of  any  mutual  unpleasantness— anything  but! 
I  don't  see  any  use  in  denying  tliat  you've  got  the  best  of  it.  I'm 
done — reg'lar  bowled  over;  and  if  ever  there  was  a  poor  devil  of  a 
toad  under  a  harrer,  I've  no  hesitation  in  admitting  that  toad's  me! 
So  the  only  point  I  should  like  to  submit  for  your  consideration  is 
this-:  Have  things  gone  too  far?  Are  you  quite  sure  you  won't  be 
spiting  yourself  as  well  as  me  over  this  business?  Can't  we  come 
to  an  amicable  arrangement?     Think  it  over!" 

"  Leander,  you  can't  mean  it!"  cried  Matilda. 

"You  leave  me  alone,"  he  said  hoarsely;  "I  know  what  I'm 
saying!" 

AVhether  the  goddess  had  overstated  her  indifference,  or  whether 
she  may  have  seen  a  prospect  of  some  still  subtler  revenge,  she  cer- 
tainly did  not  receive  this  proposition  of  Leander's  with  the  con- 
tumely tliat  might  have  been  expected ;  on  the  contrar}^  she  smiled 
with  a  triumphant  satisfaction  that  betrayed  a  disposition  to  treat. 

"  Have  my  words  been  fulfilled,  then?"  she  said.  "  Is  your 
insolent  pride  humbled  at  last?  and  do  you  sue  to  me  for  the  very 
favors  you  so  long  have  spurned?" 

"You  can  put  it  that  way  if  you  like,"  he  said,  doggedly.  "If 
you  want  me,  you'd  better  say  so  while  there's  time,  that's  all!" 

"Little  have  you  merited  such  leniency,"  she  said;  "  and  yet,  it 
is  to  you  I  owe  my  return  to  life  and  consciousness.  Shall  I  aban- 
don what  I  have  taken  such  pains  to  win?  No!  I  accept  your  sub- 
mission. Speak,  then,  the  words  of  surrender,  and  let  us  depart 
together!" 

"Before  I  do  that,"  he  said,  firmly,  "there's  one  point  I  must 
have  settled  to  my  satisfaction." 

"  You  can  bargain  still!"  she  exclaimed,  haughtily.  "Are  all 
barbers  like  you?  If  your  point  concerns  the  safety  of  this  maiden, 
be  at  ease;  she  shall  go  unharmed,  for  she  is  my  rival  no  longer!" 

"  Well,  it  wasn't  that  exactly,"  he  explained;  "but  I'm  doubtful 
about  that  ring  being  the  genuine  article,  and  I  want  to  make 
sure." 


THE    TINTED    VEiTUS.  105 

"  But  a  short  time  since,  and  you  were  willing  to  trust  all  to 
me!" 

"I  was;  but,  if  I  may  take  the  liberty  of  observing  so,  things 
were  different  then.  You  were  wrong  about  that  thunder-bolt — you 
may  be  wrong  about  the  ring ! " 

"  Fool!"  she  said,  "how  tnow  you  that  the  quality  of  the  token 
concerns  my  power?  Were  it  even  of  unworthy  metal,  has  it  not 
brought  me  hither?" 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  "  but  it  mightn't  be  strong  enough  to  pass  me 
the  whole  distance,  and  where  should  I  be  then?  It  don't  look 
more  to  me  than  15  carat,  and  I  daren't  run  any  extra  risk!" 

"  How,  then,  can  your  doubts  be  set  at  rest?''  she  demanded. 

"Easy,"  he  replied:  "there  are  men  who  understand  these 
things.  All  I  ask  of  you  is  to  step  over  with  me,  and  see  one  of 
them,  and  take  his  opinion;  and  if  he  says  it's  gold — why,  then,  I 
shall  know  where  1  am!" 

"Aphrodite  submit  her  claims  to  the  judgment  of  a  mortal!" 
she  cried.     "  Never  will  I  thus  debase  myself!" 

"  Very  well,"  he  said,  "then  we  must  stay  where  we  are.  All  I 
can  say  is,  I've  made  you  a  fair  offer." 

She  paused.  "Why  not?"  she  said,  dreamily,  as  if  thinking 
aloud.  "  Have  not  I  s«ed  ere  this  for  the  decision  of  a  shepherd 
judge — even  of  Paris?  'Tis  but  one  last  indignity,  and  then— he  is 
mine  indeed!  Leander,"  she  added,  graciously,  "it  shall  be  as  you 
will.     Lead  the  way;  I  follow!" 

But  Matilda,  who  had  been  listening  to  this  compromise  with  in- 
credulous horror,  clung  in  desperation  to  her  lover's  arm,  and  sought 
to  impede  his  flight.  "  Leander!"  she  cried,  "  oh,  Leander!  surely 
you  won't  be  mad  enough  to  go  away  with  her !  You  won't  be  so 
wicked  and  sinful  as  that!  Remember  who  she  is:  one  of  the  false 
gods  of  the  poor  benighted  heathens — she  owned  it  herself!  She's 
nothing  less  than  a  live  idol!  Think  of  all  the  times  we've  feeeu  to 
chapel  together;  think  of  your  dear  aunt,  and  how  she'll  feel  your 
being  in  such  awful  company !  Let  the  police  come,  and  think  what 
they  like:  we'll  tell  them  the  truth,  and  make  them  believe  it.  Only 
be  brave,  and  stay  here  with  me ;  don't  let  her  insuare  3^ou !  Have 
some  pity  for  me;  for,  if  you  leave  me,  I  shall  die!" 

"Already  the  guards  are  at  your  gates,"  said  the  statue; 
"  choose  quickly — while  you  may!" 

He  put  ]\Latilda  gently  from  him.  "  Tillie,"  he  said,  with  a  con- 
vulsive effort  to  remain  calm,  "  you  gave  me  up  of  your  own  free 
will — 5'ou  know  that— and  now  you've  come  round  too  late.  The 
other  lady  spoke  first ! " 

As  she  still  clung  to  him,  he  tried  to  whisper  some  last  words  of 
a  consoling  or  reassuring  nature,  and  she  suddenly  relaxed  her  grasp, 
and  allowed  him  to  make  his  escape  without  further  dissuasion — not 
that  his  arguments  had  reconciled  her  to  his  departure,  but  because 
she  was  mercifully  unaware  of  it. 


106  THE    TINTED    YENUS. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

THE     ODD    TRICK. 

O  heart  of  stone,  are  you  flesh,  and  caught 
By  that  you  swore  to  withstand? 

Maud. 

Outside  on  the  stairs  Leander  suddenly  remembered  that  his 
purpose  might  be  as  far  as  ever  from  being  accomplished.  The 
house  was  being  watched:  to  be  seen  leaving  it  would  procure  his 
instant  arrest. 

Hastily  excusing  himself  to  the  goddess,  he  rushed  down  to  his 
laboratory,  where  he  knew  there  was  a  magnificent  beard  and  mus- 
tache which  he  had  been  constructing  for  some  amateur  theatricals. 
With  these,  and  a  soft  felt  hat,  he  completed  a  disguise  in  which  he 
flattered  himself  he  was  unrecognizable. 

The  goddess,  however,  pcnetl-ated  it  as  soon  as  he  rejoined  her. 
"  Why  have  you  thus  transformed  yourself?"  she  inquired  coldly, 

"Because."  explained  Leander,  "seeing  the  police  are  all  on  the 
lookout  for  me,  I  thought  it  couldn't  do  any  harm!" 

"  It  is  useless!"  she  returned. 

"  To  be  sure,"  he  agreed,  blankly,  "  they'll  expect  me  to  go  out 
disguised.  If  only  they  aren't  up  to  the  way  out  by  the  back! 
That's  our  only  chance  now." 

"  Leave  all  io  me,"  she  replied,  calmly,  "  with  Aphrodite  you  are 
safe!" 

And  he  never  did  quite  understand  how  that  strange  elopement 
was  effected,  or  even  remember  whether  they  left  the  house  from 
the  front  or  rear.  The  statue  glided  swiftly  on,  and,  grasping  a 
corner  of  her  robe,  he  followed,  with  only  the  vaguest  sense  of  ob- 
stacles overcome  and  passed  as  in  a  dream. 

By  the  time  he  had  completel^y  regained  his  senses  he  was  in  a 
crowded  thoroughfare,  which  he  recognized  as  the  Gray's  Inn  Road. 

A  certain  sclieme  from  which,  desperate  as  it  was,  he  hoped 
much,  might  be  executed  as  well  here  as  elsewhere,  and  he  looked 
about  him  for  the  aid  upon  wiiich  he  counted. 

"Where,  then,  lives  the  wise  man  whom  you  would  consult?" 
said  Aphrodite. 

Leander  went  on  until  he  could  see  the  colored  lights  of  a  chem- 
ist's window,  and  then  he  said,  "  There— right  opposite!" 

He  felt  strangely  nervous  himself,  but  tUe  goddess  seemed  even 
more  so.  She  hung  back  all  at  once,  and  clutched  his  arm  in  her 
marble  grasp.  "  Leander,"  she  said,  "  I  will  not  go!  See  those 
liquid  fires  glowing  in  lurid  hues,  like  the  eyes  of  some  dread  mon- 
ster!    This  test  of  yours  is  needless,  and  I  fear  it!" 

"Lady  Venus,"  he  said  earnestl3%  "  I  do  assure  you  they're  only 
big  bottles,  and  quite  harmless  too,  having  water  in  them,  not 
physic:  you've  no  call  to  be  alarmed!" 

She  yielded,  and  they  crossed  the  road.  The  shop  was  small  and 
unpretending.    In  the  window  the  chief  ornaments  were  speckled 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  107 

plaster  limbs  clad  in  elastic  socks,  and  photop:raphs  of  hideous  com- 
plaints before  and  after  treatment  witii  a  celebrated  ointment;  and 
tliere  were  certain  tropliies  wliich  indicated  that  the  chemist  num- 
bered dentistry  among  his  accomplishments. 

Inside,  the  odor  of  drugs  prevailed,  in  the  absence  of  the  subtle 
perfume  that  is  part  of  the  fittings  of  a  fashionable  apothecary,  and 
on  the  very  threshold  tiie  goddess  paused  irresolute. 

"  Tliere^is  magic  in  the  air,"  she  exclaimed,  "  and  fearful  poisons: 
this  man  is  some  enchanter!" 

"Now  I  put  it  to  you,"  Sciid  Leander,  with  some  impatience, 
"does  he  look  it?" 

The  chemist  was  a  mild  little  man,  with  a  high  forehead,  round 
spectacles,  a  little  red  beak  of  a  nose,  and  a  weak  gray  beard.  As 
they  entered,  he  was  addressing  a  small  and  draggled  child  from 
behind  his  counter.  "  Go  back  and  tell  your  mother,"  he  said, 
"that  she  must  come  herself.     I  never  sell  paregoric  to  children." 

There  was  so  little  of  the  wizard  in  his  manner  that  the  goddess, 
who  possibl}'-  had  some  reason  to  mistrust  a  mortal  magician,  was 
reassured. 

As  the  child  retired,  the  chemist  turned  to  thera  with  a  look  of 
bland  and  dignified  inquiry  (something,  perhaps  tUe  consciousness 
of  having  once  passed  an  examination,  sustains  the  meekest  chemist 
in  an  inward  superiority).     He  did  not  speak. 

Leander  took  it  upon  himself  to  explain,  "  This  lady  would  be 
glad  to  be  told  whether  a  ring  she's  got  on  is  the  real  article  or  only 
imitation,"  he  said,  "  so  she  thought  you  could  decide  it  for  her." 

"  Not  so,"  corrected  the  goddess,  austerely;  "  for  myself  I  care 
not!" 

"  Have  it  your  own  way,"  said  Leander;  "J  should  like  to  be 
told  then.  I  suppose,  mister,  you've  some  way  of  testing  these 
things?" 

"  Oh  yes!"  said  the  chemist,  "  I  can  treat  it  for  you  with  what 
we  call  aquafortis,  a  combination  of  nitric  and  hydrochloric  acid, 
which  w^ould  tell  us  at  once.  I  ought  to  mention,  perhaps,  that  so 
extremely  powerful  an  agent  may  injure  the  appearance  of  the 
metal  if  it  is  of  inferior  quality.  Will  the  lady  oblige  me  with  the 
ring?" 

Aphrodite  extended  her  hand  with  haughty  indifference.  The 
chemist  examined  the  ring  as  it  circled  her  tinger,  and  Leander  held 
his  breath  in  tortures  of  anxiety,  A  horrible  fear  came  over  him 
that  his  deep  laid  scheme  was  about  to  end  in  failure! 

But  the  chemist  remarked  at  last:  "  Exactly;  thank  you,  madam. 
The  gold  is  antique,  certainly;  but  I  sliou'ld  be  inclined  to  pro- 
nounce it,  at  first  sight,  genuine.  I  will  ascertnin  how  this  is,  if  you 
will  take  the  trouble  to  remove  the  ring  and  pass  it  over." 

"  Why?"  demanded  Aphrodite,  obstinately. 

"I  could  not  undertake  to  treat  it  while  it  remains  upon  your 
hand,"  he  protested  ;  "the  acid  might  do  some  injury!" 

"It  matters  not!"  she  said,  calmly;  and  Leander  recollected  with 
horror  tliat,  as  any  injury  to  lier'statue  would  have  no  physical 
effect  upon  the  goddess  herself,  she  could  not  be  much  influenced 
by  the  chemist's  reason. 


108  THE    TIN"TED    VENUS. 

"  Do  what  the  gentleman  tells  you,"  he  said,  in  an  eager  whisper, 
as  he  drew  her  aside. 

"I  know  your  wiles,  O  perfidious  one !"  she  said;  "having  in- 
duced me  to  remove  this  token,  you  would  seize  it  yourself  and  take 
to  flight!     I  will  not  remove  this  ring!" 

"There's  a  thing  to  say!"  exclaimed  Leander,  "  there's  a  sus- 
picion to  throw  against  a  man !  If  you  think  I'm  likely  to  do  that, 
I'll  go  right  over  here,  where  I  can't  even  see  it,  and  I  won't  stir 
out  till  it's  all  over.  Will  that  satisfy  you?  You  know  why  I'm  so 
anxious  about  that  ring;  and  now,  when  the  gentleman  tells  you 
he's  almost  sure  it's  gold — " 

"  It  z'sgold!"  said  the  goddess. 

"  If  you're  so  sure  about  it,"  he  retaliated,  "  why  are  you  afraid 
to  have  it  proved?" 

"  I  am  not  afraid,"  she  said;  "  but  I  require  no  proof!" 

"  I  do,"  he  retorted,  "  and  what  I  told  you  before  I  stand  to.  If 
that  ring  is  proved — in  the  only  way  it  can  be  proved,  I  mean,  by 
this  gentleman  testing  it  as  he  tells  you  he  can — then  there's  no 
more  to  be  said,  and  I'll  go  away  with  you  like  a  lamb.  But  with- 
out that  proof  I  won't  stir  a  step,  and  so  I  tell  you.  It  won't  take  a 
moment.  You  can  see  for  yourself  that  I  couldn't  possibly  catch 
up  the  ring  from  here ! " 

"  Swear  to  me,"  she  said,  "  that  you  will  remain  where  you  now 
stand;  and  remember,"  she  added,  with  an  accent  of  triumph, 
"  our  compact  is  that,  should  yonder  man  pronounce  that  the  ring 
has  passed  through  the  test  with  honor,  you  will  follow  me  whither- 
soever I  bid  you!" 

"  You  have  onlv  to  lead  the  way,"  he  said,  "  and  I  promise  you 
faithfully  I'll  follow." 

Goddesses  may  be  credited  with  some  knowledge  of  the  precious 
metals,  and  Aphrodite  had  no  doubt  of  the  result  of  the  chemist's 
investigations;  so  it  was  with  an  air  of  serene  anticipation  that  she 
left  Leander  upon  this,  and  advanced  to  the  chemist's  counter. 

"Prove  it  now,"  she  said,  "quickly  that  I  may  go!" 

The  chemist,  who  had  been  waiting  in  considerable  bewilder- 
ment, prepared  himself  to  receive  the  ring,  and  Leander,  keeping 
his  distance,  felt  his  heart  beating  fast  as  Aphrodite  slowly  drew  the 
token  from  her  finger  and  placed  it  in  the  chemist's  outstretched 
hand. 

Scarcely  had  she  done  so,  as  the  chemist  was  retiring  with  the 
ring  to  one  of  his  lamps,  when  the  goddess  seemed  suddenly  aware 
that  she  had  committed  a  fatal  error. 

She  made  a  stride  forward  to  follow  and  recover  it;  but,  as  if 
some  unseen  force  was  restraining  her,  she  stopped  short,  and  a 
rush  of  whirling  words,  in  some  tongue  unknown  both  to  Leander 
and  the  chemist,  forced  its  way  through  lips  that  smiled  still,  though 
they  were  freezing  fast. 

Then,  with  a  strange,  hoarse  cry  of  baffled  desire  and  revenge, 
she  succeeded,  by  a  violent  effort,  in  turning,  and  bore  down  with 
tremendous  force  upon  the  cowering  hair-dresser,  who  gave  himself 
up  at  once  for  lost. 

But  the  marble  was  already  incapable  of  obeying  her  will.  With- 
in a  few  paces  from  him  the  statue  stopped  for  the  last  time,  with 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  109 

an  abruptness  that  left  it  quivering  and  rocking;  a  grayish  hue  came 
over  the  face,  causing  the  borrowed  tiuts  to  stand  forth  crude  and 
glaring;  the  arms  waved  wildly  and  impotently  once  or  twice,  and 
then  grew  still  forever,  in  the  attitude  conceived  long  since  by  the 
Grecian  sculptor! 

Leander  was  free!  His  hazardous  experiment  had  succeeded. 
As  it  was  the  ring  which  had  brought  the  passionate,  imperious 
goddess  into  her  marble  counterfeit,  so — the  ring  ouce  withdrawn — 
her  power  was  instantly  at  an  end,  and  the  spell  which  had  enabled 
her  to  assume  a  form  of  stone  was  broken. 

He  had  hoped  for  this,  had  counted  upon  it,  but  even  yet  hardly 
dared  to  believe  in  his  deliverance. 

He  had  not  done  with  it  yet,  however;  for  he  would  have  to  get 
the  statue  out  of  that  shop,  and  abandon  it  in  some  manner  which 
would  not  compromise  himself,  and  it  is  by  no  means  an  easy  matter 
to  mislay  a  life-size  and  invaluable  antique  without  attracting  an  in- 
convenient amount  of  atttention. 

The  chemist,  who  had  been  staring  meanwhile  in  blank  astonish- 
ment, now  looked  inquiringly  at  Leander,  who  looked  helplessly  at 
him. 

At  last  the  latter,  unable  to  be  silent  any  longer,  said,  "  The  lady 
seems  unwell,  sir!" 

"Why,"  Leander  admitted,  "she  does  appear  a  little  out  of 
sorts ! " 

"  Has  she  had  these  attacks  before,  do  you  happen  to  know?" 

"  She's  more  often  like  this  than  not,"  said  Leander. 

"Dear  me,  sir;  but  that's  very  serious!  Is  there  nothing  that 
gives  relief?— a  little  sal  volatile,  now?  Does  the  lady  carry  smell- 
ing salts?  If  not,  I  could — "  And  the  chemist  made  an  offer  to 
come  from  behind  his  counter  to  examine  the  strange  patient. 

"  No,"  said  Leander,  hastily;  "  don't  you  trouble— you  leave  her 
to  me.  I  know  how  to  manage  her;  when  she's  rigid  like  this,  she 
can't  bear  to  be  taken  notice  of." 

He  was  wondering  all  the  time  how  he  was  to  get  away  with  her, 
until  the  chemist,  who  seemed  at  least  as  anxious  for  her  departure, 
suggested  the  answer:  "1  should  imagine  the  poor  lady  would  be 
best  at  home,     Shall  I  send  out  for  a  cab?"  he  asked. 

"Yes,"  said  Leander,  gratefully;  "bring  a  hansom;  she'll  come 
round  better  in  the  open  air;"  for  he  had  his  doubts  whether  the 
statue  could  be  stowed  inside  a  four-wheeler. 

"Ill  go  myself,"  said  the  obliging  man;  "my  assistant's  out. 
Perhaps  the  lady  will  sit  down  till  the  cab  comes?" 

"Thanks,"  said  Leander;  "but  when  she's  like  this,  she's  been 
recommended  to  stand." 

The  chemist  ran  out  bareheaded,  to  return  presently  with  the  cab 
and  a  small  train  of  interested  observers;  he  offered  the  statue  his 
arm  to  the  cab-door,  an  attention  which  was  naturally  ignored. 

"  We  shall  have  to  carry  her  there,"  said  Leander. 

"Why,  bless  me,  sir,"  said  the  chemist,  as  he  helped  to  lift  her, 
"  she— she's  surprisingly  heavy !" 

"  Yes,"  gasped  Leander,  over  her  unconscious  shoulder;  "  when 
she  goes  off  in  one  of  these  sleeps,  she  does  sleep  very  heavy;"  an 


110  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

explacation  which,  if  obscure,  was  accepted  by  the  other  as  part  of 
the  general  strangeness  of  the  case. 

On  the  threshold  tlie  chemist  stopped  again.  "  I'd  alnaost  for- 
gotten the  ring,"  he  said, 

''I'll  take  that!"  said  Leander, 

"Excuse  me,"  was  the  objection,  "but  I  was  to  give  it  back  to 
the  lady  herself:  had  I  not  better  put  it  on  her  finger,  don't  you 
think?" 

"  Are  you  a  married  man?"  asked  Leander,  grimly. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  chemist. 

"Then,  if  you'll  take  my  advice,  I  wouldn't  if  I  was  you — if 
you're  at  all  anxious  to  keep  out  of  trouble.  You'd  better  give  the 
ring  to  me,  and  I  give  you  my  word  of  honor  as  a  gentleman  that 
I'll  give  it  back  to  her,  as  soon  as  ever  she's  well  enough  to  ask  for 
it!" 

The  other  adopted  the  advice,  and,  amidst  the  sympathy  of  the 
bystanders,  they  got  the  statue  into  the  cab. 

"Where  to?"  asked  the  man  tiirough  the  trap. 

"Charing  Cross,"  said  Leander,  at  random;  he  thought  the 
drive  would  give  him  time  for  reflection. 

"The  'orspital,  eh?"  said  the  cabman,  and  drove  off,  leaving  the 
mild  chemist  to  stare  open-mouthed  on  the  pavement  for  a  moment, 
and  go  back  to  his  sliop  with  a  growing  sense  that  he  had  had  a 
very  unusual  experience. 

Now  that  Leander  was  alone  in  the  cab  with  the  statue,  whose 
attitude  required  space,  and  cramped  him  uncomfortably,  he  won- 
dered more  and  more  what  he  was  to  do  Avilh  it.  He  could  not 
afford  to  drive  about  London  forever  with  her;  he  dared  not  take 
her  home;  and  he  was  afraid  of  being  seen  with  her! 

All  at  once  he  seemed  to  see  a  way  out  of  his  difiiculty :  his  first 
step  was  to  do  what  he  could,  in  the  constantly  varying  light,  to  re- 
duce the  statue  to  its  normal  state;  he  removed  the  curls  which  had 
disfigured  her  classical  brow,  and,  with  his  pocket-handkerchief, 
rubbed  most  of  the  color  from  her  face;  then  the  cloak  had  only  to 
be  torn  off,  and  all  that  could  betray  him  was  gone. 

Nearing  Charing  Cross,  Leander  told  the  driver  to  take  him  down 
Parliament  Street,'  and  stop  at  the  entrance  to  Scotland  Yard ;  there 
the  cabman,  at  Leander's  request,  descended,  and  stared  to  find  him 
huddled  up  imder  the  gleaming  pale  arms  of  a  statue. 

"  Guv'nor,"  he  remarked,  "that  warn't  the  fare  I  took  up,  I'll 
take  my  dying  oath ! " 

"It's  all  right,"  said  Leander.  "Now,  I  tell  you  what  I  want 
you  to  do;  go  straight  in  through  the  archway,  find  a  policeman, 
and  say  there's  a  gentleman  in  your  cab  that's  found  a  valuable 
article  that's  been  missing,  and  wants  assistance  in  bringing  it  in. 
I'll  take  care  of  the  cab,  and  here's  double  fare  for  your  trouble!" 

"And  wuth  it,  too,"  was  the  cabman's  comment,  as  he  departed 
on  his  mission.  "  I  thought  it  was  the  devil  I  wasa-drivin',  we  was 
that  down  on  the  orf  side!" 

It  was  no  part  of  Leander's  programme  to  wait  for  his  return ;  he 
threw  the  cloak  over  his  arm,  pocketed  his  beard,  and  slipped  out  of 
the  cab  and  across  the  road  to  a  spot  whence  he  could  watch  un- 
seen.   And  when  he  had  seen  the  cabman  come  out  with  two  con- 


THE    TIKTED    YENUS.  Ill 

Stables,  be  felt  assured  tbat  bis  burden  was  in  safe  bands  at  last, 
and  returned  to  Soutbampton  Row  as  quickly  as  tbe  next  bansom 
he  bailed  could  take  bim. 

He  entered  bis  bouse  by  tbe  back  entrance;  it  was  unguarded-, 
and  allbougb  be  listened  long  at  tbe  foot  of  tbe  stairs,  be  beard 
nothing.  Had  tbe  inspector  not  come  yet,  or  was  tbere  a  trap?  As 
be  went  on,  be  fancied  tbere  were  sounds  in  bis  sitting-room,  and 
went  up  to  tbe  door  and  listened  nervously  before  entering  in. 

"Ob,  ]Mi?s  Collum,  my  poor  dear!"  a  tremulous  voice  wbicb  be 
recognized  as  bis  aunt's,  was  saying;  "  for  mercy's  sake  don't  lie 
tbere  like  tbat!  Sbe's  dying! — audit's  my  fault  for  letting  ber 
come  bere! — and  wbat  am  I  to  say  to  ber  ma?" 

Leauder  bad  beard  enougb ;  be  burst  in,  witb  a  wbite,  borror- 
stricken  face.  Yes,  it  was  true!  IMatilda  was  lying  back  in  bis 
crazy  arm-chair,  ber  eyes  fast  closed,  ber  lips  parted. 

"Aunt,"  be  said,  witb  difficulty,  "  sbe's  not — not  dead?" 

"If  she  is  not,"  returned  bis  aunt,  "it's  no  tbankstoyou,  Leandy 
Tweddle!     Go  away — you  can  do  no  good  to  ber  now!" 

"Not  till  I've  beard  ber  speak!"  cried  Tweddle.  "Tillie,  don't 
you  bear? — it's  me!" 

To  bis  immense  relief,  she  opened  ber  eyes  at  tbe  sound  of  his 
voice,  and  turned  away  witb  a  feeble  gesture  of  fear  and  avoidance. 
"  You  have  come  back!"  she  moaned,  "  and  witb  ber! — oh,  keep 
her  away!     I  can't  bear  it  all  over  again!     I  can't!" 

He  threw  himself  down  by  her  chair,  and  drew  down  the  hands 
in  wbicb  she  had  bidden  ber  face.  "Matilda,  m}"  poor,  hardly- 
used  darling!"  be  said,  "I've  come  back  alone! — I've  got  rid  of 
her,  Tillie! — I'm  free!— and  there's  no  one  to  stand  between  us  any 
more ! " 

She  pushed  back  her  disordered  fair  hair,  and  looked  at  bim 
witb  sweet,  troubled  eyes.  "But  you  went  away  witb  her — for- 
ever?" she  said;  "you  said  you  didn't  love  me  any  longer.  I  beard 
you — it  was  just  before — "  and  she  shuddered  at  tlie  recollection. 

"  I  know,"  said  Leander,  soothingly.  "  I  was  obligated  to  speak 
harsh,  to  deceive  the — tbe  other  party,  Tillie.  I  tried  to  tell  you, 
quiet-like,  tbat  you  wasn't  to  mind;  but  you  wouldn't  take  no  no- 
tice. But  tbere,  we  won't  talk  about  it  any  more— so  long  as  you 
forgive  me;  and  you  do,  don't  j'ou?" 

Slie  bid  ber  face  against  bis  shoulder,  in  answer,  from  which  he 
drew  a  favorable  conclusion ;  but  Miss  Tweddle  was  not  so  easily 
pacified.  "And  is  this  all  tbe  explanation  you're  going  to  give," 
she  demanded,  "  for  treating  this  poor  child  the  way  you've  done, 
and  neglecting  her  shamefully  like  this?  If  sbe's  satisfied,  Leandy, 
I'm  not." 

"  I  can't  help  it,  aunt,"  he  said;  "  I've  been  true  to  Tillie  all  tbe 
way  through,  in  spite  of  all  appearances  to  tbe  contrarj' — as  she 
knows  now.  And  tbe  more  I  explained,  tbe  less  you'd  understand 
about  it;  so  we'll  leave  things  where  they  are.  But  I've  got  back 
the  ring,  and  now  you  shall  see  me  put  it  on  her  finger !" 

*  **  *  *  *  ♦ 

It  seemed  tbat  Leander  bad  driven  to  Scotland  Y^ard  just  in  time 
to  save  himself,  for  the  inspector  did  not  make  his  threatened  search 
$hat  evening, 


112  THE    TINTED    YENUS. 

Two  or  three  days  later,  however,  to  Leander's  secret  alarm,  he 
entered  the  shop.  After  all,  he  felt,  it  was  hopeless  to  think  of  de- 
ceiving these  sleuth-hounds  of  the  Law:  this  detective  had  been 
making  inquiries,  and  identified  him  as  the  man  who  had  shared 
the  hansom  with  that  statue ! 

His  knees  trembled  as  he  stood  behind  his  glass-topped  counter. 
"Come  to  make  the  search,  sir?"  he  said,  as  cheerfully  as  he  could; 
"you'll  find  us  ready  for  you." 

"  Well,"  said  Inspector  Bilbow,  with  a  queer  mixture  of  awk- 
wardness and  complacency,  "no,  not  exactly.  Tweddle,  my  good 
fellow,  circumstances  have  recentl}' assumed  a  shape  that  renders  a 
search  unnecessary,  as  perhaps  you  are  aware?" 

He  looked  very  hard  af  Tweddle  as  he  spoke,  and  the  hair- 
dresser felt  that  this  was  a  crucial  moment — the  detective  was  still 
uncertain  whether  he  had  been  mixed  up  in  the  affair  or  not. 
Leander's  faculty  of  ready  wit  served  him  better  here  than  on  past 
occasions. 

"Aware?  No,  sir,"  he  said,  with  admirable  simplicity.  "Then 
that's  why  you  didn't  come  the  other  evening!  1  sat  up  for  you, 
sir;  all  night  I  sat  up." 

"  The  fact  of  the  matter  is,  Tweddle,"  said  Bilbow,  who  had  be- 
come suddenly  affable  and  condescending,  "  I  found  myself  re- 
duced, so  to  speak,  to  make  use  of  you  as  a  false  clew,  if  you  catch 
my  meaning?" 

"I  can't  say  I  do  quite  understand,  sir." 

"  I  mean — of  course,  I  saw  with  half  an  eye,  bless  your  soul— 
that  you'd  had  nothing  to  do  with  it.  It  wasn't  likely  that  a  poor 
chap  like  you  had  any  knowledge  of  a  big  plant  of  that  descrip- 
tion. No,  no;  don't  you  go  away  with  that  idea;  I  never  associ- 
ated you  with  it  for  asingle  instant!" 

"  I'm  truly  glad  to  hear  it,  Mr.  Inspector,"  said  Leander. 

"It  was  owing  to  the  line  I  took  up;  there  were  the  real 
parties  to  put  off  their  guard,  and  to  do  that,  Tweddle— to  do  that, 
it  Avas  necessary  to  appear  to  suspect  you.     D'ye  see?" 

"I  think  it  was  a  little  hard  on  me,  sir,"  he  said;  for  being 
suspected  like  that  hurts  a  man's  feelings,  sir.  1  did  feel  wounded 
to  have  that  cast  up  against  me !" 

"  AVell,  well,"  said  The  inspector,  "  we'll  go  into  that  later.  But, 
to  go  on  with  what  I  was  saying:  my  tactics,  Tweddle,  have  been 
crowned  with  success — the  famous  Venus  is  now  safe  in  my  hands! 
What  do  you  say  to  that?" 

"Say?  \Yhy,  what  clever  gentlemen  you  detective  officers  are, 
to  be  sure ! "  cried  Leander. 

"  Well,  to  be  candid,  there's  not  many  in  the  department  that 
would  have  managed  the  job  as  neatly;  but  then,  it  was  a  case  I'd 
gone  into,  and  thoroughly  got  up ! " 

"That  I'm  sure  you  must  have  done,  sir,"  agreed  Leander 
"  How  ever  did  you  come  on  it?"  He  felt  a  kind  of  curiosity  to 
hear  the  answer. 

"  Tweddle,"  was  the  solemn  reply,  "that  is  a  thing  you  must  be 
content  to  leave  in  its  native  mystery  "  (which  Leander  undoubtedly 
was).  "We  in  the  Criminal  Investigation  Department  have  our 
secret  channels  and  our  underground  sources  for  obtaining  informa- 


THE    TINTED    VENUS.  113 

tion,  but  to  lay  those  channels  and  sources  bare  to  the  public  would 
serve  no  useful  end,  nor  would  it  be  an  expedient  act  on  my  part. 
All  you  have  any  claim  to  be  told  is,  that,  however  costly  and  com- 
plicated, however  dangerous  even,  the  means  employed  may  have 
been  (that  I  say  nothing  about),  the  ultimate  end  has  been  obtained. 
The  Venus,  sir,  will  be  restored  to  her  place  in  the  Gallery  at 
"Wricklesmarsh  Court  without  a  scratch  on  her ! " 

"You  don't  say  so!  Lor'!"  cried  Leander,  hoping  that  his 
countenance  would  keep  his  secret,  "well,  there  now.  And  my 
ring,  sir,  if  you  remember — isn't  Hiat  on  her?" 

"  You  mustn't  expect  us  to  do  everything:  your  ring  was,  as  I 
had  every  reason  to  expect  it  would  be,  missing.  But  I  shall  be 
talking  the  matter  over  with  Sir  Peter  Purbecke,  who's  just  come 
back  to  Wricklesmarsh  from  the  Continent,  and,  provided — ahem! 
—you  don't  go  talking  about  this  affair,  I  should  feel  justified  in 
recommending  him  to  make  you  some  substantial  acknowledgment 
for  any— well,  little  inconvenience  you  may  have  been  put  to  on 
account  of  your  slight  connection  with  the  business,  and  the  steps  I 
may  have  thought  proper  to  take  in  consequence.  And,  from  all  I 
hear  of  Sir  Peter,  I  think  he  would  be  inclined  to  come  down  un- 
commonly handsome." 

"  Well,  Mr.  Inspector,"  said  Leander,  "all  I  can  say  is  this:  if 
Sir  Peter  was  to  know  the  life  his  statue  has  led  me  for  the  past  few 
days,  I  think  he'd  say  I  deserved  it— I  do,  indeed!" 


CONCLUSION. 

The  naiTOw  passage  off  Southampton  Row  is  at  present  without 
a  hair-dresser's  establishment;  Leander  having  resigned  his  shop, 
long  since,  in  favor  of  either  a  fruiterer  or  a  stationer. 

But,  in  one  of  the  leading  West  End  thoroughfares  there  is  a 
large  and  prosperous  hair-cutting  saloon,  over  which  the  name  of 
"  Tweddle  "  glitters  resplendent,  and  the  books  of  which  would 
prove  too  much  for  Matilda,  even  if  more  domestic  duties  had  not 
begun  to  claim  her  attention. 

Leander's  troubles  are  at  an  end.  Thanks  to  Sir  Peter  Purbecke's 
munificence,  he  has  made  a  fresh  start ;  and,  so  far,  Fortune  has 
prospered  him.  The  devices  he  has  inventad  for  correcting  Nature's 
more  palpable  errors  in  taste  are  becoming  widely  known,  while  he 
is  famous,  too,  as  the  gifted  author  of  a  series  of  brilliant  and  popu- 
lar hair  washes.  He  is  accustoming  his  clients  to  address  him  as 
"  Professor  " — a  title  which  he  has  actually  had  conferred  upon  him 
from  a  quarter  in  which  he  is,  perhaps,  the  most  highly  appreciated 
— for  prosperity  has  not  exactly  lessened  his  self-estl'cm. 

Mr.  Jauncy,  too,  is  a  married  man,  although  he  does  not  respond 
so  heartily  to  congratulations;  there  is  no  intimacy  between  the  two 
households,  the  heads  of  which  recognize  that,  as  Leander  puts  it, 
"  their  wives  harmonize  better  apart." 

To  the  new  collection  of  Casts  from  the  Antique,  at  South  Ken- 
sington, there  has  recently  been  added  one  which  appears  in  the 
official  catalogue  under  the  folio v/ing  tlescription ; 


114  THE    TINTED    VENUS. 

"833.  The  CytJierean  Venus.  Marble  statue.  Found  In  a 
grotto  in  the  Island  of  Cerigo.  Now  in  the  collection  of  Sir  Peter 
Purbecke,  at  Wricklesmarsb  Court,  Blacklieath. 

"  This  noble  work  has  been  indifferently  assigned  to  various  peri- 
ods; the  most  general  opinion,  however,  pronounces  it  to  be  a  copy 
of  an  earlier  work  of  Alkamenes,  or  possibly  Kephisodotos. 

"The  unusual  small uess  of  the  extremities  seems  to  betra}'-  the 
hand  of  a  restorer,  and  there  are  traces  of  color  in  the  original  mar- 
ble, which  are  supposed  to  have  been  added  at  a  somewhat  later 
period." 

Should  Professor  Tweddle  ever  find  himself  in  the  Museum  on 
a  Bank  Holiday,  and  enter  the  new  gallery,  he  could  hnrdl}'  avoid 
seeing  the  magnificent  cast  numbered  333  in  the  catalogue,  and  re- 
viving thereby  sundry  recollections  he  has  almost  succeeded  in  sup- 
pressing. 

But  this  is  an  experience  he  will  probably  save  himself ;  for  he 
is  known  to  entertain,  on  principle,  very  strong  prejudices  against 
sculpture,  and  more  particularly  the  Antique. 


THE  END. 


OT  THB 

TJNIVERSITY  \ 


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